The owner of a home where comedian Rosie O'Donnell's teenage daughter was found last week sent the girl a nude photo, according to a criminal complaint released Monday.
Steven Sheerer, 25, is accused of having inappropriate online communications with 17-year-old Chelsea O'Donnell. He "knowingly distributed obscene images to a minor ... specifically a nude photo over the Internet," the complaint said.
The Barnegat man made his initial appearance in state Superior Court in Toms River on Monday afternoon, but did not enter a plea. He faces charges of child endangerment and distribution of obscenity to a minor. Bail remained at $40,000 cash, but a bail review was scheduled for Tuesday.
Ocean County prosecutors say he faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
Sheerer was arrested Friday night at his home. Chelsea O'Donnell was found at the home Aug. 18, hours after her mother posted a statement online saying the girl had left home in South Nyack, New York, a week earlier.
Sheerer's arrest came several hours after authorities obtained the girl's cellphone with her mother's consent, prosecutors said. They found "inappropriate communications" over the last several weeks between Sheerer and Chelsea, prosecutors said.
I mean I don't think the nude photo is that bad, she's 17 not 12. The disturbing part is that she was at his home for a week after running away from her own, now THAT is wrong.
I mean, she's less than a year away from being legal, it's kinda stupid that he was arrested, like somehow a year will make her mature enough to see a penis I get that she's still technically a minor, but I think they should've let him slide tbh (providing the photo wasn't unsolicited).
I get that she's still technically a minor, but I think they should've let him slide tbh (providing the photo wasn't unsolicited).