June 5 (UPI) — Former Nickelodeon star Drake Bell, star of “Drake & Josh,” pleaded not guilty to child misconduct charges after police said he had inappropriate interactions with a 15-year-old in Cleveland.
The 34-year-old actor — who was born Jared Drake Bell but also goes by Drake Campana — was arrested Friday on an attempted endangering children charge, a fourth-degree felony; and a disseminating matter harmful to juveniles charge, a first-degree misdemeanor, the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office said.
He was released from Cuyahoga County Jail on $2,500 bond Friday, CNN reported.
Prosecutors said Bell established a relationship with the 15-year-old Canadian girl several years ago, and she attended his concert at a Cleveland nightclub, the Odeon Concert Club, in 2017. While there, Bell “violated his duty of care and, in doing so, created a risk of harm to the victim,” the prosecutors office said.
Bell allegedly sent the teen inappropriate messages on social media.
WJW-TV in Cleveland reported that the teen filed a report of the allegations at a Canadian police department in 2018.
He’s next set to appear in court June 23.
Bell played the role of Drake Parker in “Drake & Josh” from 2004-07, and also had roles as the voice of Spider-Man in various animated series.
