Jared Drake Bell Pleads Guilty To Attempted Endangering Child

CLEVELAND — Actor Jared Drake Bell pleaded guilty Wednesday to two child endangerment charges in Cleveland.

Bell, 34, was charged with attempted endangering of a child, a fourth-degree felony, and disseminating matter harmful to juveniles, a first-degree felony. He will be sentenced July 12 and faces up to two years in prison.

Bell pleaded guilty in Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas as part of a deal with prosecutors, People magazine reported.

Bell is an actor best known for his role in the Nickelodeon sitcom "Drake and Josh." He played the title character of Drake.

The incident at the heart of the charges took place Dec. 1 and 2 in 2017, according to court and police records. Bell was scheduled to play a concert at the Odeon that month and began a relationship with a 15-year-old girl on social media at that time.

Bell was accused of sending inappropriate messages to the teenager, court documents said.

Ian Friedman, Bell's attorney, said Wednesday that he could not comment on the case but added that it will be revealed at sentencing “why Mr. Bell chose to enter today's plea.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.