Drew Drechsel, the 2019 American Ninja Warrior champion, has been charged by the U.S. Attorney's Office of the District of New Jersey with at least four crimes involving sexual misconduct with a minor.
The 31-year-old performer from Florida, who was known as "The Real Life Ninja" on the series, was charged with an assortment of crimes, including the manufacture of child pornography, enticement of a minor to travel for illicit sexual conduct, travel with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, and use of interstate commerce to entice a minor.
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Drechsel, was also a frequent mentor on American Ninja Warrior Jr., is specifically accused of trying to have sex with a girl that was 15 years old when he met her. The charge notes that he "enticed and coerced a minor to travel to Connecticut to engage in illicit sexual conduct and engaged in online sexual communications with a minor and induced her to manufacture sexually explicit images of herself and send them to Drechsel." Their first encounter was at Drechsel's gym in Connecticut. He later had the teen travel to New Jersey and he, too, traveled to the Garden State for the purpose of having sex with her. They had a number of sexual encounters over the next few years.
Frank J. Riccio II, Drechsel's attorney, released a statement in defense of the performer, "Mr. Drechsel is presumed innocent of the charges and that presumption will remain throughout the pendency of his case. He intends on entering a 'not guilty' plea."
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NBC released their own statement today, cutting ties with Drechsel, “We are shocked and disturbed to learn about the charges alleged against Drew Drechsel. American Ninja Warrior is a family show that has inspired countless people, and we will not let the actions of one contestant tarnish the hard work and amazing stories of so many. Moving forward, the American Ninja Warrior brand will sever all ties with Mr. Drechsel, including his appearance on future seasons of the show.”
Drechsel's charges carry with them serious jail time if he were to be convicted. The use of interstate commerce to entice count carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. The count of enticement to travel for illicit sexual conduct carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The count of travel with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, and the count of manufacture of child pornography carries a minimum of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 30 years in prison.