American Ninja Warrior Star Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Child Sex Crimes E- News

Transcript

00:00Former American Ninja Warrior winner Drew Dreschel has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for child sex crimes.

00:07U.S. Attorney Philip R. Selinger confirms in a press release that Dreschel, who won season 11 of the series in 2019,

00:14has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for receiving child pornography and enticement to travel for illicit sexual conduct.

00:22According to the release, Dreschel pleaded guilty in June 2023 to one count of receiving child pornography

00:28and one count of knowingly persuading, inducing, enticing, and coercing a minor to travel interstate to engage in sexual activity.

00:37Citing case documents and statements made in court, the release notes law enforcement agents

00:42quote, searched one of Dreschel's phones and found images of child sexual abuse,

00:46including photos and videos of the victim when the victim was 14 and 15 years old.

00:52According to the U.S. Attorney, Dreschel admitted to meeting the victim in 2014 through the parkour community

00:58and to texting the victim and discussing his plans to engage in sexual activity with the victim.

01:03Per the report, the minor then traveled across state lines in July 2015 so that Dreschel could have sexual relations with the victim.

01:11In addition to 10 years in prison, Chief U.S. District Judge Rene M. Baum sentenced Dreschel to 15 years of supervised release

01:19and ordered him to pay $100,000 in restitution to the victim.

01:23E! News has reached out to Dreschel's attorney for comment and has not yet heard back.

01:27After Dreschel was charged in 2020, a spokesperson for NBCUniversal shared a statement regarding his arrest, saying,

01:34We are shocked and disturbed to learn about the charges alleged against Drew Dreschel.

01:39American Ninja Warrior is a family show that has inspired countless people,

01:43and we will not let the actions of one contestant tarnish the hard work and amazing stories of so many.

01:49It continued, Moving forward, the American Ninja Warrior brand will sever all ties with Mr. Dreschel,

01:55including his appearance on future seasons of the show.