The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
Drake Bell’s ex-girlfriend alleged that the actor was abusive to her in more than one fashion during their live-in relationship when she was a teenager, and Bell is contesting the accusation.
Jared Drake Bell has worked in the entertainment industry since 1991 and has a long resume of television and film credits including starring in the Nickelodeon show “Drake and Josh” in 2003.
Between 2006 and 2009, Bell reportedly had a romantic relationship with Melissa Lingafelt, now known as Jimi Ono, when she was 16-years-old, and the couple lived together for some of the time that they dated.
On August 12, Lingafelt posted several videos to the social media site TikTok claiming that she had been holding back about the abusive conditions of her relationship with Bell.
Lingafelt stated that Bell allegedly subjected her to much physical and verbal abuse, and accused him of having a drinking problem while they were romantic partners.
In response to the allegations, the now 34-year-old Bell spoke out against the claims and issued a public statement to news sources saying that his ex-girlfriend had fabricated all of the behaviors she accused him of displaying when they were together.
Bell further stated that when they decided to part ways, they had made unkind verbal comments “as often happens when couples are breaking up. But that is it.”
Lingafelt, who has also had a career in the public eye as an actress and was Miss Teen North Carolina in 2006, has disclosed that she has pictures and other evidence to support her claims about how her ex treated her.
Bell, who said he is confused about why Lingafelt has accused him of abusing her, said that the pair have remained civil enough that he helped her through a financial hardship last year.
Bell is also exploring his options for pressing charges against Lingafelt for the “offensive and defamatory allegations.”
If you or someone you love is suspected of a criminal offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.