It’s been a whirlwind of a week for the O’Donnell’s, to say the least.
Steven Sheerer, the man who was found with Rosie O’Donnell’s missing 17-year-old daughter, Chelsea O’Donnell, has been arrested on charges of distribution of obscenity to a minor and endangering the welfare of a child. Each of these charges can land Sheerer behind bars for up to five years in a state prison.
According to CNN, the 25-year-old resident of Barnegat, New Jersey, was detained on Friday after investigators searched Chelsea’s cell phone where evidence of “inappropriate communications over the last several weeks between Sheerer and the minor” was found.
In addition to Chelsea’s cell phone, a computer and other digital equipment was obtained from Sheerer’s home after a search warrant was issued. As of yet, no word on what’s been found on them, but for the time being, “Sheerer is being held on a $40,000 bond and is prohibited from contacting Chelsea or her family” E! News is reporting.
“He was involved with a minor, and Rosie’s concern has been and always will be the health, safety and well-being of her daughter,” Cindi Berger, Rosie’s publicist, said in a statement to PEOPLE. “Rosie is profoundly appreciative for the work the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office has done and the diligence of the local police.”
The comedienne reported her daughter missing on Aug. 18th via Rosie.com and Twitter, although she had voluntarily left the family home days earlier. The teen, who suffers from mental illness, was not taking her medication at the time of the incident.
When authorities first approached Sheerer’s home, he initially denied Chelsea was there, but police thought otherwise because they were “tracking her through her burner phone,” according to Page Six. Shortly after, the teen was found “huddled in the attic with her therapy dog, Bear.”
Chelsea and Sheerer, whose prior arrests include driving while intoxicated, possession of heroin with intent to distribute, child endangerment and disorderly conduct, met on Tinder sometime in July, according to multiple reports.
At this time, there is no evidence of any sexual relationship between the twosome or that any crime was committed.
[Image via Page Six]
