Former America Ninja Warrior Champion Convicted of Child Exploitation

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An old American ninja warrior The champion was sentenced to more than 10 years in prison for having sex with a teenage girl.

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

Drechsel pleaded guilty June 1 to receiving child pornography and knowingly enticing and coercing a minor to travel interstate for 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 2014 parkour event attended by several American Ninja Warrior She was only 14 years old, according to a criminal complaint.

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

The victim told authorities that she and Drechsel had sex on several occasions in New Jersey when she was between 15 and 17 years old.

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 and competed in eight seasons.