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Former Nickelodeon Star Drake Bell Confirms Marriage And Baby After Pleading Guilty To Child Endangerment-Related Charges
Drake Bell pleaded guilty to attempted endangering of a child in connection to a 2017 incident involving a 15-year-old girl in Cleveland.
Former Nickelodeon star Drake Bell has confirmed he is married and a father—not long after making headlines for pleading guilty to child endangerment-related charges involving a 15-year-old girl at a Cleveland nightclub.
Bell made the surprise announcement on social media June 29, confirming he has been married to Janet Von Schmeling for years.
“In response to various rumors that are incorrect, I have been married for almost 3 years, and we are blessed to be the parents of a wonderful son,” Bell tweeted in Spanish. “Thank you very much to all my fans around the world for your good wishes.”
The post came just days after Bell pleaded guilty to attempted endangering child and disseminating matter harmful to juveniles in connection with a 2017 incident involving a 15-year-old victim, according to WEWS-TV.
Tyler Sinclair, the public information officer in the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office previously told Oxygen.com that the 15-year-old, who had established a relationship with the actor “several years” earlier, attended his concert at a Cleveland nightclub in December of 2017.
While she was at the concert, Sinclair said Bell “violated his duty of care” and “created a risk of harm” to the teenager.
The victim reported the incident to police in Canada, where she lived, nearly a year later. Canadian authorities reached out to the Cleveland Division of Police, who launched an investigation into the allegations.
Prosecutors determined that in the months before the visit, Bell had sent the teenager inappropriate social media messages.
Just weeks after Bell was charged in connection with the incident, he opted to plead guilty at a pre-trial hearing.
Bell, who now performs under the name Drake Campana, has been linked to Von Schmeling since at least 2017, The New York Post reports.
He announced his marriage on Twitter after the couple was spotted at Disneyland in California pushing a stroller and wearing wedding bands, according to People.
His sentencing is scheduled for July 12. His attorney, Ian Friedman, previously told Oxygen.com that “all questions will be answered at sentencing, including why Mr. Bell chose to enter” the plea.
