“Whatever he gets,” Mr. Bell added, “he doesn’t have to live with the knowledge of a 41-year-old man all over him for the rest of his life.”

Mr. Bell began his career as a child actor, with his breakthrough performance coming in “The Amanda Show,” a live-action sketch comedy and variety show created by Dan Schneider. The show starred Amanda Bynes and aired on Nickelodeon from 1999 to 2002.

“Drake & Josh,” the show for which he is best known, was also created by Mr. Schneider and aired for four seasons on Nickelodeon, from 2004 to 2007. Mr. Bell played one half of a pair of stepbrothers who lived together despite having opposite personalities.

In the years since, Mr. Bell has started a music career and toured in support of several albums.

He had his own run-in with the law in 2021, when he was sentenced to two years of probation after pleading guilty to two charges against him relating to a girl he had met online and who attended one of his concerts in Cleveland in 2017. He pleaded guilty to attempted child endangerment, a felony, and disseminating material harmful to children, a misdemeanor.

“Your honor, I just want to say today that I accept this plea because my conduct was wrong,” Mr. Bell said at his sentencing hearing. “I’m sorry that the victim is harmed in any way — that was obviously not my intention. I have taken this matter very very seriously, and again, I just want to apologize to her and anyone else who may have been affected by my actions.”

At the 2004 sentencing hearing for Mr. Peck, Andrea Thompson, a deputy district attorney, emphasized to the court that the victim would be “the one who has to live with the effects of the defendant’s crimes for the rest of his life,” according to the transcript.

“The psychological and emotional damage the defendant has likely done is immense, long-standing,” Ms. Thompson warned, “and much of it may be unknown for many years.”

Sarah Bahr contributed reporting. Kirsten Noyes and Kitty Bennett contributed research.