Drake And Josh’ Star Pleads Guilty To Ohio Charges Of Crimes Against A Child
Socialites, check this out: Drake Bell, the actor best known for playing Drake in the Nickelodeon TV show “Drake and Josh,” has pleaded guilty to two charges related to crimes against a child in an Ohio court.
Prosecutors say the alleged 15-year-old victim filed a report with her local police department in Canada in 2018 regarding an incident involving Bell that allegedly happened in Cleveland on December 1, 2017.
Bell, who also goes by Drake Campana, tweeted in October 2017 that he was scheduled to play Cleveland’s The Odeon Concert Club on December 1, 2017. However, the tweet was deleted the same day the arrest went public.
Cleveland Police conducted an investigation, which revealed the victim had actually established a relationship with Bell several years prior. She attended the December concert, where “Bell violated his duty of care and, in doing so, created a risk of harm to the victim.” Additionally, investigators found Bell sent the teenager inappropriate social media messages in the months leading up to the concert. No other details were shared.
The entertainer had been out on $2,500 personal bond since his arraignment on June 3. But this Wednesday, the 34-year-old entered guilty pleas to attempted endangering children, which is a 4th degree felony and disseminating matter harmful to juveniles, which is a 1st degree misdemeanor.
“If you plead guilty, that is an admission that you did commit these crimes,” said Judge Timothy McCormick to Bell via Zoom.
Last summer, Bell’s ex-girlfriend, Melissa Lingafelt, accused him of verbally and physically abusing her while they were dating for about two and a half years, starting in 2006, according to the L.A. Times.