Drake Bell Pleads Guilty To Felony Child Endangerment
Jared “Drake” Bell from the 2004 Nickelodeon series Drake and Josh pleaded guilty on Wednesday (June 23) to two charges related to crimes involving a minor.
34-year-old Bell entered a guilty plea virtually in Cuyahoga County court in Cleveland, Ohio to two charges: One count of attempted child endangerment, a fourth-degree felony, and one count of disseminating matters harmful to juveniles, a first-degree misdemeanor.
Apparently, Bell was in Cleveland in December of 2017 performing a concert at the Odeon Concert Club. A 15-year-old Canadian girl who attended that concert reported to police an inappropriate relationship between herself and the former Nickelodeon star.
Per CBS News, Cleveland police said Bell “violated his duty of care” during the event, though it’s unclear what exactly occurred. The teen later filed a complaint with Canadian police in October 2018, who then contacted authorities in Cleveland. Police said Bell and the victim knew each other and had developed a relationship years prior, including inappropriate material sent by Bell to the girl over social media months before the concert.
Footage from the virtual hearing laid out the attempted child endangerment charges — a sentence from 6 to 18 months in prison and/or a fine of up to $5,000. The misdemeanor charge of the first-degree carries a maximum sentence of up to six months in county jail and a possible fine of up to $1,000.
When Bell was initially charged earlier this month, he posted a $2,500 bond and pleaded not guilty.
The former Nickelodeon star was also on ’90s Nickelodeon shows All That and The Amanda Show alongside Amanda Bynes, Josh Peck and Kenan Thompson.
Bell is scheduled to be sentenced on July 12 after his guilty plea. A victim impact statement may also be read at that time virtually.
