Child endangerment charges dropped against Phish bassist September 19, 2003 - The Associated Press By The Associated Press HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - A judge on Friday dismissed charges of trespassing and endangering the welfare of a minor against the bass player for the jam band Phish because prosecutors said they could not prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt. Michael E. Gordon, 38, of New York City, was arrested last month after the mother of a 9-year-old girl became concerned that she could not find the child backstage during a concert by The Dead at Jones Beach. Gordon and the girl were found together in an enclosed boathouse that is part of the backstage area, police said. Phish was not performing at the concert. Judge Francis Ricigliano threw out the charges against Gordon after prosecutors made a motion to dismiss the case, said Rick Hinshaw, a spokesman for Nassau County District Attorney Denis Dillon. Hinshaw said the girl's parents also wanted the charges to be dropped. After Gordon's arrest, the band issued a joint statement from Gordon and the girl's family calling the incident "an unfortunate misunderstanding." Copyright © 2003, The Associated Press