‘Ninja’ winner charged with sex assault of teen

An "American Ninja Warrior" winner and owner of several Connecticut gyms is facing accusations of seeking sex with a minor, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in New Jersey.

Drew Drechsel, who won last season’s “American Ninja Warrior,” was arrested Tuesday in Florida and charged with 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.

According to a criminal complaint, the victim said she first met Drechsel, 29, in 2014 at an event attended by other "American Ninja Warrior" contestants. The two exchanged numbers at the event and began texting each other, the complaint said.

During the summer of 2015, Drechsel invited the New Jersey girl, who was 15 at the time, to his gym in Connecticut, where the two had sex, according to the complaint.

The girl’s mother confronted Drechsel when she found out about about it, according to the complaint.

The mother told investigators that Drechsel did not deny having sex with the teen, but stated “he did not know her age at the time,” the complaint said.

But over the next two years, Drechsel and the victim had sex several more times, according to the complaint. Investigators also claim Drechsel had sexually explicit photos of the teen on an old phone, the complaint said.

Attorney Frank J. Riccio II, who represents Drechsel, said his client plans to plead not guilty.

“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,” Riccio wrote in a statement. “It is respectfully requested that you respect the privacy of Mr. Drechsel and his family.”

Thomas Alberti, who co-owns “Real Life Ninja Academy” in Windsor with Dreschel, called the allegations “incredibly disturbing” and “in stark opposition with the values of this academy” in a post on the gym’s website.

“This type of behavior has no place in our community and I fully condemn his actions. Moving forward, the business will remain under my management, and Drew Drechsel will no longer be making any decisions relating to this academy. We remain committed to making the protection and safety of our clients our top priority,” Alberti said.

Dreschel is co-creator of the “Real Life Ninja Academy,” which has locations in Hamden, Stamford and Windsor, as well as Freeport, New York and New York City.

In September 2019, Drechsel became only the second $1 million winner in the history of "American Ninja Warrior.”

Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media “American Ninja Warrior” champion Drew Drechsel poses at his facility New Era Ninjas Sports & Fitness Instruction in Hamden in 2017.