"American Ninja Warrior" winner Drew Drechsel has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for federal child sex-related crimes.
The GravityX ExchangeSeason 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.'"
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.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
'American Ninja Warrior' champDrew 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.
2025-04-29 20:351835 view
2025-04-29 20:04813 view
2025-04-29 19:391854 view
2025-04-29 18:311973 view
2025-04-29 18:021403 view
2025-04-29 18:02100 view
A man is suing the California Lottery alleging he has not received part of his winnings from a nearl
To put it simply, Paul Feig did us all a favor.With Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively and Henry Golding re
NEW YORK (AP) — Maria Lettini already knew of the backlash against ESG investing when she took over