Previous American Ninja Warrior winner Andrew ‘Drew’ Drechsel was sentenced to just over 10 years in prison after being charged with multiple child sex crimes.
As PEOPLE previously reported, Drechsel, 35, was arrested at his Florida home in August 2020 after he began having sex with the teenager in 2014 after they met at an event.
On Wednesday, June 26, 2024, the United States Attorney’s Office in New Jersey confirmed in a press release that Drechsel — who won Season 11 of the NBC competition show in 2019 — was sentenced to 121 months in prison for receiving child support. pornography and inducement to travel for illicit sexual behavior.
The disgraced TV star from Saint Cloud, Florida “pleaded guilty on June 1, 2023, before Chief U.S. District Judge Renée M. Bumb to an information charging him with one count of receiving child pornography and one count of knowingly persuading, soliciting, inducing and forcing a minor to travel interstate for the purpose of sexual activity, for which the defendant may be charged with a criminal offense,” the state attorney’s office said in a statement.
Drew Drechsel competes on ‘American Ninja Warrior’ 2019 David Becker/NBC American Ninja Warrior winner Drew Drechsel charged with child sex crimes
Chief U.S. District Judge Renée M. Bumb then handed down the sentence on June 26 in federal court in Camden.
“In addition to the prison term, Judge Bumb sentenced Drechsel to 15 years of supervised release and ordered him to pay $100,000 in restitution to the victim,” the statement added.
The attorney general’s office said the former TV personality lived in Hamden, Connecticut from 2014 to Nov. 8, 2019, while his victim — who was “14 and 15 years old” when they had sex — lived in New Jersey.
After law enforcement agents searched one of Drechsel’s phones on November 8, 2019, they found images of child sexual abuse and photos and videos of the victim.
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Police photo of Andrew Drechsel.
Seminole County Sheriff’s Office
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“Drechsel admitted that he initially met the victim in 2014 through his activities in the parkour community as American Ninja Warrior“, the press release states.
“Drechsel admitted to texting the victim and discussing his plans for sexual activity with the victim. At Drechsel’s instigation, the victim traveled across the state line in July 2015 so that Drechsel could have sexual relations with the victim,” the state attorney’s office added.
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NBC did not immediately respond when PEOPLE reached out for comment.
When the allegations were made in 2020, NBC said they were “shocked and upset” in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. “American Ninja Warrior is a family show that has inspired countless people, and we will not allow the actions of one contestant to tarnish the hard work and incredible stories of so many,” the statement read at the time.
“Moving forward, American Ninja Warrior brand will sever all ties with Mr. Drechsel, including his appearance on future seasons of the show,” NBC added in its statement.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.
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Source: HIS Education