Drake Bell receives probation on child endangerment charge

Drake Bell gets two years probation despite child endangerment charge despite being branded a ‘monster’ by his 19-year-old victim in an emotional impact statement

  • Actor Drake Bell, 35, was sentenced to two years probation and 200 hours of community service on child endangerment charges on Monday
  • Before the sentencing the now 19-year-old victim read an impact statement alleging she suffered ‘sexual abuse’ at the hands of the former star
  • In her statement the victim called Bell a ‘monster’ who ‘preyed’ on her and said he is a ‘danger to children’
  • ‘I just want to apologize to her and anyone else who may have been affected by my actions,’ Bell said during sentencing 
  • Last month the former child star switched his plea from not guilty to felony attempted child endangerment and a misdemeanor charge of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles
  • Bell recently revealed that he was secretly married to Janet Von Schmeling and the couple share a baby boy 

Actor Drake Bell has been sentenced to two years probation on child endangerment charges relating to a girl who met him online and attended one of his concerts in Ohio when she was 15.

The 35-year-old former Nickelodeon star, born Jared ‘Drake’ Bell, also received 200 hours of community service to be served in the state of California in a sentence handed out by a Cleveland judge on Monday.

In an emotional impact statement read prior to sentencing, the now 19-year-old victim claimed that Bell ‘sexually abused’ her and called him a ‘monster,’ according to Deadline.

Sentencing: Actor Drake Bell has been sentenced to two years probation and 200 hours of community service on child endangerment charges relating to a girl who met him online and attended one of his concerts in Ohio when she was 15 (Pictured in his June mugshot)

Things got heated during the virtual hearing when the victim read her impact statement via Zoom and claimed that she performed oral sex on the star when she was 15-years-old.

Bell appeared virtually for his sentencing at the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas courtroom with Judge Timothy McCormick.

He seemed visibly shocked at the accusation and in response, the victim addressed him directly saying: ‘Don’t look at me like that!’    

‘These are crimes that are unforgivable and inexcusable,’ she said. ‘They cannot be taken back. He was calculating, he preyed on me and sexually abused me. He is a monster and a danger to children.

Tense: Things got heated during the virtual hearing when the victim read her impact statement via Zoom and claimed that she performed oral sex on the star when she was 15-years-old

‘I’m kindly asking you to send a powerful message that these crimes are never okay, no matter who a person is,’ the victim continued.

She went on: ‘And he can give me that look all he wants but he knows exactly what I’m talking about.’

‘These are crimes that are unforgivable and inexcusable,’ she said. ‘They cannot be taken back. He was calculating, he preyed on me and sexually abused me. He is a monster and a danger to children,’ the victim said

‘He is the epitome of evil,’ she said. ‘I deserve better than to be used for his sick desires, and for my suffering to be used for his amusement. Jared Drake Bell is a pedophile and that is his legacy.’  

Bell later addressed the court: ‘I just want to say today I accept this plea because my conduct was wrong.’

‘I have taken this matter very, very seriously,’ he added. ‘I just want to apologize to her and anyone else who may have been affected by my actions.’ 

In June, after initially pleading not guilty, Bell instead pleaded guilty to felony attempted child endangerment and a misdemeanor charge of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles.

During Monday’s hearing his attorney made sure to note that he had not been charged with the more serious crimes of sexual assault and pedophilia that the victim alleged in her impact statement. 

Authorities have said the girl, who attended a 2017 concert in Cleveland, contacted Toronto police in October 2018 over the incident. Toronto authorities then forwarded its findings to Cleveland police, prompting an investigation.

The attempted endangering children charge relates to the concert where Bell ‘violated his duty of care’ and created a risk of harm to the victim, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office spokesperson Tyler Sinclair said previously.

Clarification: During Monday’s hearing his attorney made sure to note that he had not been charged with the more serious crimes of sexual assault and pedophilia that the victim alleged in her impact statement (pictured with his wife in 2017)

Bell and the girl had ‘developed a relationship’ online several years prior to the concert, Sinclair said. 

The disseminating harmful material charge concerns Bell having sent the girl ‘inappropriate social media messages,’ Sinclair said. 

The former child star has run into trouble with the law before, after being sentenced to four days jail time in 2015 for driving while intoxicated, which was his second DUI conviction in a six-year time period.

Bell, also a singer, began acting as a child, but was catapulted to stardom as a teen with Nickelodeon’s The Amanda Show and later Drake & Josh, which debuted on the channel in January 2004.

The final episode aired in September 2007. Bell and co-star Josh Beck also starred in two Drake & Josh movies.

Moving on: After his sentencing, Drake took to social media with a clip of a ‘Father Son jam sesh’ where he played the piano and sang with his infant son sitting in his lap

In addition to his acting career, Bell is a musician and formed a band named Drake 24/7, and has released several albums to middling success. In 2006, he reached No. 81 on the Billboard 200 with his second album, It’s Only Time, selling 23,000 copies in the first week.

Earlier this month Bell confirmed he has been secretly married to Janet Von Schmeling, who is the mother of his baby boy.

The actor revealed in a tweet, translated from Spanish, that he has ‘been married for almost three years’ and that they ‘are blessed to be the parents of a wonderful son.’

After his sentencing, Drake took to social media with a clip of a ‘Father Son jam sesh’ where he played the piano and sang with his infant son sitting in his lap. 

Charges: In June, after initially pleading not guilty, Bell instead pleaded guilty to felony attempted child endangerment and a misdemeanor charge of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles

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