'American Ninja Warrior' winner accused of child sex crimes in New Jersey
08/05/2020 8:02 am PDT
By Charles Frazier, WFTV
CAMDEN, N.J. (WFTV) -- A St. Cloud man and “American Ninja Warrior” winner was arrested Tuesday, accused of several child sex crimes.
Andrew Drechsel, 31, faces charges in New Jersey of manufacturing child pornography, enticement of a minor to travel for illicit sexual conduct, traveling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, and use of interstate commerce to entice a minor.
According to the criminal complaint, Drechsel and the girl involved in the case first met in 2014 after an “American Ninja Warrior” event, and the teen told investigators the relationship became sexual in July 2015 during a visit to Drechsel's gym in Connecticut when she was 15 years old and Drechsel was 26.
When confronted by the teen's mother, Drechsel didn't deny the sexual activity, but claimed he didn't know her age.
This past season, Drechsel won the championship of the "American Ninja Warrior" NBC TV show taking home the million-dollar prize. NBC said it is cutting all ties with Drechsel following the accusations.
Dreschsel made his initial appearance Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, prior to his transfer to the District of New Jersey.
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