Posted on 08/05/2020 2:12:38 PM PDT by EdnaMode
American Ninja Warrior champ Drew Drechsel has been charged with sex crimes involving a minor, the U.S. Attorney's Office of the District of New Jersey announced Tuesday.
Drechsel, 31, of Saint Cloud, Florida, was charged with the manufacture of child pornography, enticement of a minor to travel for illicit sexual conduct, travel with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, and use of interstate commerce to entice a minor, according to authorities. He made his initial court appearance Tuesday.
According to the complaint, Drechsel, the 2019 American Ninja Warrior champion (also a "mentor" for multiple seasons on American Ninja Warrior Junior) allegedly sought to have sex with a female minor and traveled to New Jersey to do so. In addition, Drechsel "enticed and coerced a minor to travel to Connecticut to engage in illicit sexual conduct and engaged in online sexual communications with a minor and induced her to manufacture sexually explicit images of herself and send them to Drechsel."
Specifically, Drechsel is accused of having a sexual relationship beginning in 2015 with a then-15-year-old girl, which started in in Hamden, Connecticut. The first alleged incident took place in his gym. A number of sexual incidents involving the same victim also allegedly took place in New Jersey over a span of years, according to the complaint. The victim filed a police report in June 2019.
Drechsel's lawyer, Frank J. Riccio II, issued a statement on Twitter. "Mr. Drechsel is presumed innocent of the charges and that presumption will remain throughout the pendency of his case. He intends on entering a 'not guilty' plea."
The use of interstate commerce to entice count carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, according to authorities. The count of enticement to travel for illicit sexual conduct carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The count of travel with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, and the count of manufacture of child pornography carries a minimum of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 30 years in prison. All of the counts also carry a maximum fine of $250,000 per count, according to authorities.
NBC said in a statement Wednesday Drechsel had been dropped from the show. “We are shocked and disturbed to learn about the charges alleged against Drew Drechsel," reads the statement. "American Ninja Warrior is a family show that has inspired countless people, and we will not let the actions of one contestant tarnish the hard work and amazing stories of so many. Moving forward, the American Ninja Warrior brand will sever all ties with Mr. Drechsel, including his appearance on future seasons of the show.”
Come on man. WTH.
These articles about child pornography just take the life out of you.
Thought he was one of the good guys.
Instead he is one of the worst.
And he had a damn pretty girlfriend. He waited for her to leave and hit on the kid.
SMH
It’s rare that i’m speechless...
Obsessions, Obsessions, Obsessions - Like addictions, less mentally stressful to satisfy than to work hard to defeat, which is why the “easy path” is chosen so often.
For instance, need I say “trans”???
Do you think he has the potential to climb out of jail?
I almost never mention religion on the board. It’s just not me.
But I think he has a great chance of climbing down to Hell.
And being a ninja warrior won’t help him there
A contrite demeanor and coming close to God would be his greatest achievement.
That would be the greatest achievement for many of us.
Myself included.
Actually, a fella from this board who passed this year told me to please get closer to God. In our last conversation.
It would end up being his last conversation on earth.
Forgot about that.
Need to remember.
His name was Farmer Dean.
As for this guy...being sorry for getting caught won’t cut it. He will face a terrible reckoning if he doesn’t find redemption and beg forgiveness. and be sincere
What an idiot.
The man was an amazing athlete. I feel bad for his wife and child.
She must have been a heck of a girl. But at 26, 15 is way, way below the acceptable line.
Ping
Yeah I rooted for him too.
Such a terrible thing.
Pray for all the children involved.
Reminds me of that Sub sandwich guy. ...jarrod.
I was so shocked about him too. Sickos
Damn. Really liked him on the show.
The sick (bleeps) that go after little kids are the worst, but I find their offenses a lot easier to comprehend than the ones that perv on teenagers.
At 18 the girls look mostly the same and the police will never get involved. Guess it’s the thrill of taking a risk or a power play or something. Disturbing.
I am absolutely shocked.
Just saw him Monday night(nbc) on Ninja Warriors... USA against Australia and Europe.
Drechsel won it for us with his stage 4 rope climb.
I was sad to hear about FD passing. I remember the prayer requests when he as ill. He was a joy to read. Good advise he had. I thank the Lord every day for being inside me and giving me the sense to know him. And the fear of treading where fools go.
God bless you.
I do miss Farmer Dean. Had a few discussions with him over the years.
What is it with men who want sex with children?
Hed probable rather do that then change his ways.
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