CLEVELAND — Actor Drake Bell has been sentenced to two years’ probation on charges relating to a girl who met him online and attended one of his concerts in Ohio when she was 15.
Jared “Drake” Bell, 34, was also sentenced to 200 hours of community service, all of it served in California. He lives in West Hollywood.
After initially pleading not guilty, Bell instead pleaded guilty last month via Zoom to felony attempted child endangerment and a misdemeanor charge of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles. The sentencing range was up to two years in prison.
The victim, who spoke publicly in court Monday during the sentencing, attended his concert in Cleveland in 2017. She then contacted Toronto police in 2018, who contacted the Cleveland Division of Police.
The now 19-year-old woman said leading up to the concert, her and Bell were messaging back and forth online. They had maintained an online relationship since she was 12, she said.
She said Bell forced her to perform sexual acts the night of the concert backstage and then again on the same night at a hotel room.
“He is sorry he’s finally been caught,” she said. “He committed these crimes with pride.”
According to Bell’s defense attorney, he did not know her age at the time.
Bell also spoke in court, saying he wanted to apologize to the victim.
“I’m sorry the victim was harmed in any way, but that was not my intention,” he said.
His sentences of one year on attempted child endangering and six months for disseminating matter harmful to juveniles will run concurrently while his sex offender status is reviewed.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
