Joseph Schultz, a 24-year-old musician best known for his tenure with the Florida metal bands Tactosa and Peacemaker FL, has been arrested on grave charges involving the possession of child ab*se material.
According to public inmate records held by the Volusia County Division of Corrections in Florida, Schultz was booked into custody on October 17, 2025. The guitarist faces a litany of disturbing charges, including 15 counts of “possession of a s*xual performance by a child enhanced” and five counts of “possession of por**graphy involving animals.”
As news of the arrest and the specific nature of the charges began to circulate through online communities including Reddit, Peacemaker FL moved quickly to distance themselves from their former bandmate. In a formal statement issued today, November 25, the band clarified that Schultz had already been dismissed from the group prior to the charges becoming public knowledge.
The full statement from Peacemaker FL reads:
“Joseph Schultz is no longer a part of Peacemaker. We removed him from the lineup 2 months ago, before the recent reports surfaced. Peacemaker has always stood firmly against the kind of vile behavior now being alleged. Our music has never shied away from calling it out, we write about confronting and destroying it in our lyrics, and that’s woven into who we are. Our principles aren’t changing and our stance on this is permanent. We are focusing on what’s ahead and gearing up for a massive 2026. See you soon.”
This development marks the second time a project involving Schultz has collapsed or faced severe controversy due to legal and moral allegations against a member. Schultz was previously a member of the rising deathcore outfit Tactosa, which disbanded in August 2023.
The dissolution of Tactosa was triggered by allegations of s*xual misconduct lodged against the band’s then-vocalist, Kyle Weeden. The situation culminated in the public exit of drummer Joshua Archeval, who signaled the end of the band with a statement on August 6, 2023.
“I’m making the decision to step down as the drummer of Tactosa,” Archeval wrote at the time. “Anyone affected by this does not deserve to feel how they feel about the situation at hand. I want you to know I hear you. I see you. You deserve to be acknowledged.”
Schultz remains in custody as legal proceedings commence.
Ogorthul: Immersed in the bone-shattering world of death metal and beyond. I’m here to excavate the latest news, reviews, and interviews from the extreme metal scene for you.
