Ocean County Prosecutor's OfficeSteven Sheerer continues to find himself in legal hot water.
The 25-year-old man who allegedly housed Rosie O'Donnell's 17-year-old daughter, Chelsea O'Donnell, appeared in court Monday morning on charges that he "knowingly endanger(ed) the welfare of a child specifically by distributing images which would debauch the morals of a child," E! News confirms. The charges stem from him allegedly sending Chelsea a nude photograph of himself.
Sheerer was arrested after police discovered Chelsea at his New Jersey home after she went missing last week. He was detained on charges of third degree endangering the welfare of a child and third degree distribution of obscenity to a minor. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in state prison.
He is being held in jail on a $40,000 bond and is prohibited from reaching out to Chelsea or her family. As of this morning's hearing, the bail amount and no contact ruling has stayed the same. At the time of his arrest, police said in a statement that they "retrieved the 17-year-old victim's cell phone with consent from the victim's mother" and that the device contained "evidence of inappropriate communications over the last several weeks between Sheerer and the minor."
While searching Sheerer's house, police seized his computer and other digital equipment as part of their investigation.
Police also confirmed to E! News that Sheerer had been arrested multiple times since 2012 on offenses such as driving while intoxicated, heroin possession and disorderly conduct.
"Rosie's concern has been and always will be the health, safety and well-being of her daughter," Rosie's rep, Cindi Berger, said in a statement after Chelsea was found. "Rosie is profoundly appreciative for the work the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office has done and the diligence of the local police."
—Additional reporting by Baker Machado