Ex-‘American Ninja Warrior’ Champion Sentenced In Child Exploitation Case

Bruce Haring

27 June 2024 at 10:54 pm·1-min read

A former American Ninja Warrior champion has been sentenced to more than 10 years in prison for having a sexual relationship with a teenage girl.

After prison, Andrew Drechsel, age 35, must additionally serve 15 years of supervised release and pay the victim $100,000 in restitution, Chief U.S. District Judge Renée M. Bumb ruled in New Jersey on Wednesday.

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Drechsel pled guilty on June 1 to receiving child pornography and knowingly enticing and coercing a minor to travel interstate to engage in sex, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Jersey announced.

The victim came forward in 2019. She claimed they met and exchanged phone numbers at a parkour event in 2014 that was attended by several American Ninja Warrior contestants. She was just 14 years old, a criminal complaint states.

Drechsel invited the girl to his gym in Connecticut on her 15th birthday. The two had sex there, the victim told police.

The victim told authorities she and Drechsel engaged in sex multiple times around New Jersey when she was between the ages of 15 of 17.

In 2019, police searched Drechsel’s phone and found images of child sexual abuse, including photos and videos of the victim.

Dreschel won season 11 of American Ninja Warrior. NBC has since cut all ties with the athlete. He won $1 million on the competition show and competed in eight seasons

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