'School Of Rock' Star & Guitarist Joey Gaydos, Jr., Busted For Stealing Guitars

Gaydos, who is known for his role as lead guitarist, Zack Mooneyham, in the fictional school band fronted by Jack Black, has been hit with felony charges for larceny and grand theft.

March 07, 2019
Surveillance footage of Joey Gaydos from Troll music store [TMZ (screenshot)]

Photo by: Surveillance footage of Joey Gaydos from Troll music store [TMZ (screenshot)]

Surveillance footage of Joey Gaydos from Troll music store [TMZ (screenshot)]

By: Catherine Townsend

SARASOTA, FL — School of Rock star Joey Gaydos, Jr., is in hot water after allegedly stealing guitars and other equipment from several music stores in Florida.

Gaydos, who is known for his role as lead guitarist, Zack Mooneyham, in the fictional school band fronted by Jack Black, has been hit with felony charges for larceny and grand theft.

TMZ reports that Gaydos walked into several shops in February, asked to test guitars — and then allegedly stole them. He then allegedly sold the instruments to pawn shops.

The first alleged theft took place on February 7 at Troll Music store. Afterward, police released surveillance footage of Gaydos and the guitar, which put store owners in the area on high alert.

Joey Gaydos, Jr. [Sarasota County Sheriff's Office]

Photo by: Joey Gaydos, Jr. [Sarasota County Sheriff's Office]

Joey Gaydos, Jr. [Sarasota County Sheriff's Office]

The items Gaydos has allegedly stolen include a blue Epiphone Prophecy Les Paul valued at $800, a black Fender Stratocaster valued at $699, and a Gibson Les Paul gold top valued around $2,000.

He was arrested on February 11 at a Sarasota Sam Ash music store. This time, after strolling out with a Gibson Les Paul, TMZ reports that customers followed him out to his car and blocked him from leaving until the cops arrived.

Police say that Joey has confessed — but has pleaded not guilty in connection with the guitar thefts.

Read more: TMZ, NBC News

Next Up

Kidnapping Victim Helps Orchestrate Her Own Rescue By Holding Up Sign Saying 'Help Me'

A 13-year-old girl was rescued after holding up a sign from the window of Steven Robert Sablan’s car in a Long Beach, California parking lot.

5 Disturbing & Bizarre Facts About Dee Dee Blanchard

Inside the murder of this allegedly abusive mom that brought Munchausen by proxy syndrome into the spotlight.

Surveillance Video Helps Crack Case Of California Man Found ‘Thrown Out Like Trash’ In Barrel

Omar Medina suddenly vanished while in the process of moving out of his Chula Vista home.

Colorado Security Guard Arrested For Murder Found With Severed Hand In His Pocket

After police in Pueblo, Colorado, discovered the decapitated body of a woman in a creek, they arrested a security guard who was found with a severed hand in his pocket.

Man Accused Of Murdering Grad Student In L.A. Furniture Store Indicted On New Charges

In January 2022, Shawn Laval Smith allegedly attacked 24-year-old Brianna Kupfer after he entered the business where she was working alone, police say.

Texas Father, Son Arrested In Connection With Pregnant Teen, Boyfriend Found Shot

Police say surveillance video and phone data aided detectives in making sense of a “very, very perplexing” crime scene.

Teen Found Dead On The Side Of The Freeway Possibly A Sex Trafficking Victim, LA County DA Says

A 16-year-old girl was found murdered along the freeway on January 8, and her family says the case is not receiving the attention it deserves.

How The Abduction And Murder Of A 9-Year-Old Led To The AMBER Alert System

The AMBER alert system first debuted in 1996 as a collaboration between news media and police in Arlington, Texas. Named for Amber Hagerman, the alerts have helped find more than 1,000 abducted children.

Police Believe Florida Man May Have Killed 3 Women He Once Dated

‘He is the devil,’ says the daughter of one of suspect Cleveland Hall Jr.’s possible victims.

How Convicted Pedophile Larry Nassar Escaped Justice For So Long

“He in fact is, was, and forever shall be, a child molester, and a monster of a human being,” one victim says of the disgraced doctor.