New Jersey Man Arrested In Connection With Disappearance Of Rosie O'Donnell's Daughter
BARNEGAT, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A New Jersey man has been arrested in connection with the week-long disappearance of Rosie O'Donnell's 17-year-old daughter.
Steven Sheerer, 25, was charged with third-degree endangering the welfare of a child and third-degree distribution of obscenity to a minor, Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph Coronato said on Saturday.
Though the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office declined to identify the victim, citing her age, a spokeswoman for O'Donnell said the case involves the star's daughter, Chelsea.
Sheerer's arrest stemmed from evidence of inappropriate communication between him and Chelsea over the course of several weeks, CBS 2 reported.
The communications were discovered after O'Donnell gave authorities consent to look at the teen's cellphone.
"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 told The Associated Press. "`Rosie is profoundly appreciative for the work the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office has done and the diligence of the local police.''
On Tuesday, the actress and comedian took to social media to plead for her daughter's return.
Chelsea was last seen at her South Nyack home on Aug. 11, but authorities were not contacted until Aug. 16, and it was not believed that she was in any immediate danger.
O'Donnell had said that her daughter had stopped taking her medicine and was in need of medical attention.
"Chelsea, like millions of people, lives with mental illness," O'Donnell's representative Cindi Berger said. "It has been a difficult road for Chelsea and her family and they just want her back safe."
About six hours after O'Donnell had reached out to her Twitter followers, Chelsea was found at Sheerer's Barnegat home and officials said she willingly left with authorities.
Authorities have said police went to the home and the person answering the door initially did not want to reveal Chelsea's presence. Police said they told the occupant they would not leave until she came out.
South Nyack police said Chelsea was of "sound mind" when she was found.
The prosecutor's office said Sheerer's computer and other digital equipment were seized during the execution of a search warrant at his Barnegat residence.
Sheerer is being held at Ocean County Jail on $40,000 cash bail, the prosecutor's office said. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison.
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