Tony Lovato, singer for Chicago pop-punk band Mest was released from jail today (originally held on $1 million bail) after the stabbing death of Wayne Hughes was deemed self-defense. Lovato and Hughes got into an altercation over a woman (apparently Lovato’s ex-girlfriend and Hughes’ current) in the parking garage of a Studio City, California apartment complex. After Hughes slugged Lovato, the Mest frontman pulled out a pocket knife and stabbed Hughes multiple times. Lovato called 911, and the victim died at the hospital shortly thereafter.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office provided the following statement:

“We determined that the suspect and victim had dated the same girl back-and-forth for over a year, There had been threats, and the victim sent several threatening messages to the suspect. Apparently, there was some mutual combat and Lovato attempted to separate himself from the victim when the victim challenged him to a fight.

The victim followed Lovato to an isolated spot in the underground garage and tried to fight him. Lovato defended himself, and there was insufficient evidence to show that it was not a justifiable use of reasonable force in self-defense.”

Los Angeles FOX affiliate has the prior-to-being-released-from-jail story: [youtube]5NpqRRviNqc[/youtube]

Dominic Davi, former Tsunami Bomb and current Love Equals Death bassist hasn’t been quite so lucky. He was arrested this week after a Virginia woman brought
charges against him for rape. Davi allegedly raped the woman behind a factory in Philadelphia, where the two met at a show at the Barbary Club. The woman apparently emailed Davi about the incident in January of 2007, and when Davi confirmed the rape in a reply to her, the Philadelphia police issued a warrant for Davi’s arrest. He was apprehended after a show in Fullerton, California, where he is currently awaiting extradition.

Neither the band nor their label, Fat Wreck Chords, has issued a statement regarding the alleged rape.

Best comments about the story on PunkNews.org (for which we apologize in advance for making light of a serious subject):
1. Love equals no means yes
2. I prefer the term ’surprise sex’

Read the story in the Philadelphia Enquirer here.

Update: A statement on the Love Equals Death MySpace page speaks of the band’s decision to part ways with Davi: “Dominic will no longer be playing music or working on behalf of Love Equals Death. This matter that he faces requires all of his attention right now.”  Read the entire statement here.

Mest - “This Time”
Love Equals Death - “Pray For Me”

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