. – Actor Drake Bell, finest identified for the Nickelodeon sitcom “Drake & Josh,” was sentenced by an Ohio court docket to 1 12 months of probation on Monday, stemming from expenses of making an attempt to hazard a minor and unfold issues dangerous to minors
Bell pleaded responsible to the fees, associated to incidents in Cleveland, Ohio in 2017, final month.
The sentence was handed down after a prolonged assertion from Bell’s sufferer, who appeared in court docket by video convention. (CNN doesn’t usually determine victims of intercourse crimes.) The lady, now 19, mentioned she was 15 when she exchanged textual content messages of a sexual nature with Bell, whom she had met by her aunt at age 12.
“He was a hero to me,” he mentioned.
The lady additionally mentioned in her assertion that Bell had sexually assaulted her twice, allegations that he denied by his lawyer.
“Each night time I’m scared to fall asleep as a result of I don’t need to see it in my nightmares,” she mentioned.
“It was a big a part of my childhood and in return, it ruined my life,” she mentioned, calling him a “pedophile.” Bell’s lawyer, Ian Friedman, acknowledged that the couple engaged in textual content messages of a sexual nature, however denied that there had been assault.
“His conduct was not right, it was not acceptable,” Friedman mentioned. “However I’ve to be very clear. What the sufferer claims occurred right here, I’m not simply saying it didn’t occur, not solely is Mr. Bell saying that it didn’t occur, however the proof on this case means that it didn’t occur.”
“Everyone knows that this prosecutor’s workplace would pursue youngster intercourse expenses and do every little thing potential, with due aggressiveness, and now we have seen it many instances,” Friedman mentioned. “In the event that they felt that that is a demonstrable case, I’m certain we’d not be speaking right here at the moment about an ‘try to endanger a minor’ (cost) and a ‘dissemination matter dangerous to a minor.’
“I settle for this allegation as a result of my conduct was mistaken,” mentioned Bell, who additionally joined the court docket by video convention. “I’m sorry that the sufferer was harm in any approach, however clearly that was not my intention.”
Throughout his temporary assertion, his sufferer might be seen crying.
Bell’s probation shall be transferred to California, the place he resides. A court docket will maintain a listening to to assessment your intercourse offender standing.
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