A former champion on the reality TV show "American Ninja Warrior" was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for having child porn and luring a teenage girl to travel across state lines to have sex with him.
Andrew Drechsel, 35, of Saint Cloud, Fla., will also have to serve 15 years of supervised release and pay $100,000 restitution to the victim, the U.S. Attorney in New Jersey said.
Drechsel, who won season 11 of "American Ninja Warrior," pleaded guilty to the sex charges on June 1, 2023, the statement from U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said.
Between 2014 and November 2019, the victim was living in New Jersey, and Drechsel lived in Hamden, Conn.
Law enforcement officers searched one of Drecshel's phones on Nov. 8, 2019, and discovered "images of sexual abuse, including photos and videos of the victim when the victim was 14 and 15 years old," the U.S. Attorney said.
"Drechsel admitted that he originally met the victim in 2014 through his activities in the parkour community as an 'American Ninja Warrior.' Drechsel admitted texting the victim and discussing his plans to engage in sexual activity with the victim," the statement said.
"At Drechsel's urging, the victim traveled across state lines in July 2015 so that Drechsel could have sexual relations with the victim," it continued.
