Another one escapes any real punishment.
Drake Bell, of the show Drake and Josh, has skirted the law receiving just a two year probation on his charges of child endangerment. The sentence also includes 200 hours of community service.
The actor also can not contact the victim, who is now 19, and who called the actor “the epitome of evil” during his sentencing hearing.
“He was calculating. He preyed on me and sexually abused me,” she claimed during the hearing, which took place over Zoom. “He is a monster and a danger to children.”
“Jared Drake Bell is a pedophile and that is his legacy,” she concluded.
The victim claimed that Bell started grooming her at the age of 12 before allegedly abusing her at 15. She said he also sent her photos of his genitalia.
Bell, 35, apologized during the sentencing and claimed he didn’t mean to harm the victim.
“I accept this plea because my conduct was wrong,” said Bell, who recently revealed that he’s married and has a son. “I’m sorry that the victim was harmed in any way, but that was obviously not my intention. I have taken this matter very, very seriously. And again, I just want to apologize to her and anyone else who may have been affected by my actions.”
The actor was arrested in early June for “crimes against a child” and also indicted for “disseminating matter harmful to juveniles.” He initially pleaded not guilty but ultimately changed his plea.
The charges stemmed from his allegedly inappropriate relationship with the teen, who was 15 at the time.
Prosecutors claimed the actor met the girl online. She then attended one of his concerts in Cleveland in 2017, they alleged.