New York

Case Dropped Against the Man Found With Rosie O'Donnell's Missing Daughter

The case against a New Jersey man found with comedian Rosie O'Donnell's missing daughter three years ago has been dismissed.

The Asbury Park Press reports that court records indicate charges of child endangerment and distributing obscenity to a minor against 28-year-old Steven Sheerer were dismissed last month.

Defense attorney Robert Tarver said Monday he was unaware the case had been thrown out. He said prosecutors were pushing for a guilty plea earlier this year.

O'Donnell reported 17-year-old Chelsea missing from her New York home four days before she was found in the attic of Sheerer's Barnegat home in August 2015.

According to a criminal complaint, Chelsea O’Donnell and Sheerer met through the online dating service Tinder. Following Sheerer’s arrest, Rosie O’Donnell gave police permission to search her daughter’s phone. Police said the phone showed evidence of inappropriate communications between Sheerer and the teen that had been going on for several weeks. That included a nude photograph that Sheerer sent to Chelsea O’Donnell.

Tarver had said evidence would show his client wasn't guilty. The teenager told a judge she misrepresented her age on social media and to the defendant.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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