Drake Bell sentenced on child endangerment charge

Actor and musician Drake Bell has been sentenced to two years probation on child endangerment charges.

The Drake and Josh star pleaded guilty to the felony charges last month. He also admitted to a misdemeanour charge of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles.

The victim, now 19 years old, met him online, and accused him of sexual contact after she went to a concert of his when she was 15.

She spoke at the sentencing and outlined the damage Bell has done to her life, saying he began grooming her when she was only 12 years old. While initially she felt loved and protected by him, she says his message became "blatantly sexual" when she turned 15.

"I was one of his biggest fans," she said. "I would have done anything for him."

“The pain that the defendant has caused me is indescribable, and it worsens every day,” she continued. “Being used by somebody who meant the world to me has left me feeling more hurt than I have ever been before.”

Cuyahoga County Judge Timothy McCormick is allowing Bell to serve probation and 200 hours of community service in California.

The victim also said she and Bell exchanged explicit photos online and that he engaged in sexual conduct with her on several occasions, including at a concert venue in Cleveland and at a hotel. She called Bell a "pedophile" and a "coward".

Bell's attorney, Ian Friedman, disputed these claims on Monday, saying there was no such photos or sexual contact between the two, and the inappropriate conduct that did occur was reflected in the charges Bell pleaded to last month.

The judge spoke briefly before delivering Bell's sentence: “The fact of the matter is, your position and celebrity status let you nurture this relationship,” he said. “You were able to gain access to this child.”

Bell also spoke briefly before his sentence was delivered: "Today I accept this plea because my conduct was wrong. I’m sorry that the victim was harmed in any way — that was obviously not my intention. I have taken this matter very, very seriously, and again I just want to apologise to her and anyone else who may have been affected by my actions."