'American Ninja Warrior' winner Drew Drechsel sentenced to 10 years for child sex crimes

Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY

June 28, 2024 at 11:55 a.m.·2 min read

"American Ninja Warrior" winner Drew Drechsel has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for federal child sex-related crimes.

The Season 11 winner, born Andrew Drechsel, was first arrested in 2020, weeks into taping Season 12 of the competition series. NBC severed ties with Drechsel, 35, at the time and eliminated his appearance from the season entirely.

The Season 8 "last man standing" winner was charged with "seeking sex with a minor and inducing her to send him sexual explicit images."

The Florida resident was charged in a New Jersey court and accused of manufacturing child pornography, enticing a minor to travel for illicit sexual conduct, traveling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor and using interstate commerce to entice a minor. A criminal complaint said Drechsel met the victim, a teen from New Jersey, "after an event attended by numerous contestants (from) 'American Ninja Warrior.'"

Just weeks after taping the newest season, "American Ninja Warrior" winner Drew Drechsel was arrested on child-sex charges.

In a Wednesday press release, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey said Drechsel pleaded guilty to receiving child pornography and using interstate commerce to entice a minor in June 2023. In 2019, law enforcement searched a then-30-year-old Drechsel's phone and "found images of child sexual abuse, including photos and videos of the victim when the victim was 14 and 15 years old," the office said.

'American Ninja Warrior' champ Drew Drechsel faces child-sex charges, two weeks after taping new season

"Drechsel admitted texting the victim and discussing his plans to engage in sexual activity with the victim," the release continued. "At Drechsel's urging, the victim traveled across state lines in July 2015 so that Drechsel could have sexual relations with the victim."

USA TODAY has reached out to Drechsel's lawyer for comment.

In addition to his 10-year sentence, Drechsel received 15 years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $100,000 in restitution to the victim.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'American Ninja Warrior' victor sentenced for child sex crimes

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