Josh Peck breaks silence after ex-co-star Drake Bell pleads guilty to child endangerment charges

Josh Peck breaks silence after Drake & Josh co-star Drake Bell pleads guilty to child endangerment charges: ‘It’s upsetting, and it’s an unfortunate situation’

  • Peck, 34, spoke out about his ex-co-star’s case at LA premiere of Turner & Hooch
  • Bell, 35, earlier this week pleaded guilty in Ohio to attempted child endangerment and disseminating matter harmful to juveniles
  • Bell was arrested last month in Ohio as result of the allegations 


Josh Peck opened up on former Drake & Josh co-star Drake Bell’s legal problems, after Bell earlier this week pleaded guilty in Ohio to attempted child endangerment and disseminating matter harmful to juveniles.

‘It’s upsetting and it’s an unfortunate situation,’ Peck, 34, told reporters Thursday at the Los Angeles premiere of Turner & Hooch, his new Disney+ adaptation, Variety reported. ‘It’s disappointing.’

The New York native stated his opinion on the situation surrounding Bell, who is mandated to remain on probation for two years and complete 200 hours of community service time.

Bell was snapped in 2019 in LA at an award show

The latest: Josh Peck, 34, opened up on former Drake & Josh co-star Drake Bell’s legal problems, after Bell, 35, earlier this week pleaded guilty in Ohio to attempted child endangerment and disseminating matter harmful to juveniles

Bell, 35, had initially entered a not guilty plea in the case, as he faced as many as two years in custody stemming from an incident involving an underage girl who he first made acquaintance with online, with authorities saying the communications were ‘at times … sexual in nature.’

The victim in October 2018 reported Bell to authorities, who turned their probe over to police in Cleveland, where Bell and the victim, then 15, had crossed paths after he performed in the area in 2017.

Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office spokesperson Tyler Sinclair said that Bell had ‘developed a relationship’ with the victim online and had sent ‘inappropriate social media messages.’

Bell was arrested June 3, and later let go on a $2,500 personal bond stipulating no contact with the victim.

Peck said of his former co-star's case, 'It's upsetting and it's an unfortunate situation'

Peck said of his former co-star’s case, ‘It’s upsetting and it’s an unfortunate situation’

Dog days: Peck fills the shoes once occupied by Tom Hanks in the adaptation of the 1989 film

Dog days: Peck fills the shoes once occupied by Tom Hanks in the adaptation of the 1989 film

Prior to his sentencing in a Zoom hearing, Bell told the court, ‘I accept this plea because my conduct was wrong. I’m sorry the victim was harmed. It was not my intention.

‘I have taken this matter very, very seriously. And again, I just want to apologize to her and anyone else who may have been affected by my actions.’

In the hearing, the victim said Bell initially began grooming her at the age of 12, and that his chats with her turned ‘blatantly sexual’ three years later.

Bell was arrested June 3, and later let go on a $2,500 personal bond stipulating no contact with the victim

Bell was arrested June 3, and later let go on a $2,500 personal bond stipulating no contact with the victim 

‘I was definitely one of his biggest fans,’ the victim said in the hearing. ‘I would have done anything for him.’

The victim said that she and Bell had sexual contact multiple times and had exchanged explicit images. Bell’s lawyer Ian Friedman denied the accusations to the AP, saying that was not reflected in the case officials brought against his client.

Peck also appeared on Nickelodeon’s The Amanda Show alongside Bell, who he shared the screen with on Drake & Josh from 2004 until 2007, as well as two TV films in the franchise.