I make mistakes: Drake Bell speaks out after sentencing for child endangerment
Actor-singer Drake Bell has spoken up for the first time since being sentenced to two years of probation for felony attempted endangering children and a misdemeanor charge of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles, reported Entertainment Weekly.
In a video posted to his Instagram, the 35-year-old said that he wanted to take responsibility for his “reckless and irresponsible text messages.” He also admitted, “I’m not perfect and I make mistakes.” He said that “most of the news that you’ve heard recently is entirely false and wrong.” In terms of his case, he stated, “I didn’t get arrested, I didn’t go to jail.”
Giving his side of the story, Bell shared that although he stopped responding to a fan after learning their age, “this individual continued to come to shows, and paid for meetand-greets, and all while I was unaware that this was the same person that I was communicating with online. That’s what I plead guilty to.”
“I wasn’t charged with anything physical. I was not charged with disseminating of photographs or images or anything like that,” he continued, “This is strictly over text messages. And when I was presented with a plea deal, because of the messages, I felt that it was the best way to get this over quickly...”
He concluded his message with a thanks to the fans who stuck by him, and a warning: “Don’t believe the media right off the bat. It’s all clickbait. Do your own research.”