- Actor
Drake Bell was sentenced to two years of probation by an Ohio judge on Monday. - He will also need to complete community service, according to the Cuyahoga County court.
- Bell in June pleaded guilty to felony attempted child endangerment and a misdemeanor charge of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles.
Former "Drake & Josh" star Drake Bell was sentenced by an Ohio judge Monday to two years of probation after he pleaded guilty to felony attempted child endangerment and a misdemeanor charge of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles last month.
The Cuyahoga County judge also ordered Bell, whose real name is Jared Drake Bell, to complete 200 hours of community service and have no contact with the victim, according to the Cuyahoga County court.
In a Zoom statement before the sentencing, Bell offered an apology.
"I accept this plea because my conduct was wrong," Bell said, according to an Associated Press report. "I'm sorry the victim was harmed. It was not my intention."
The charges stemmed from a 2017 incident relating to a then-15-year-old girl who attended one of Bell's concerts in Cleveland, as Insider previously reported.
The victim filed a complaint with Canadian police in 2018, prompting an investigation in Ohio, a spokesperson for the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office previously said.
During the sentencing, the victim said Bell began "grooming" her when she was 12, eventually sending her sexually explicit messages once she turned 15.
The victim, who's now 19, said she was one of the "Drake & Josh" star's "biggest fans."
"I would have done anything for him," the victim said via Zoom, later calling Bell a "pedophile" and a "coward."
Bell is best known for his role on Nickelodeon's comedy "Drake & Josh," opposite costars Josh Peck and Miranda Cosgrove. His first major role was on "The Amanda Show" in the late '90s, and Bell later guest-starred in several other Nickelodeon shows like "iCarly" and "Zoey 101."
Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story cited an incorrect report about Bell's sex offender status. Bell is not required to register as a sex offender.