Rosie O’Donnell Update: Man Who Kept Her Daughter Charged With Child Endangerment

A man who reportedly kept Rosie O’Donnell’s daughter in his home for a week was charged with communication of obscenity and child endangerment, according to a statement released on Saturday by New Jersey’s Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.

People reports that Steven Sheerer, 25, an alleged heroin addict, was placed under arrest this weekend for allowing O’Donnell’s daughter, 17-year-old Chelsea, to stay in his Barnegat, New Jersey, house while her family and friends searched for her for more than a week.

Authorities found Chelsea last Thursday at Sheerer’s house, and although she told police she wanted to remain at his home, they took her back to her own home, where O’Donnell was anxiously waiting. Earlier in the week, O’Donnell took to Twitter to post a picture of Chelsea, along with a photo of the teen’s 6-month-old therapy puppy, Bear. Chelsea reportedly suffers from mental illness and wasn’t taking her medication.

After going through Chelsea’s cellphone, authorities noticed that Sheerer and the 17-year-old were engaging in “evidence of inappropriate communications over the last several weeks.” Subsequently, Sheerer was arrested and charged with one count of child endangerment and one count of communication of obscenity. According to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit’s press release.

“The same day (8/21) at 8:30 pm, Sheerer was arrested at his Village Drive residence in Barnegat by the partnering agencies. A search warrant was also executed on his residence, at which time a computer and other digital equipment were seized as part of the continuing investigation.”

Sheerer remains in jail on a $40,000 bond. Per O’Donnell’s publicist, Cindi Berger, he is to have not any contact with Chelsea or anyone in her family.

“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. Rosie is profoundly appreciative for the work the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office has done and the diligence of the local police.”

Although it’s still unclear how Sheerer met Chelsea, court records indicate that his troubled past includes previous arrests for endangering the welfare of children and heroin possession.

So far, there is no indication as to whether Rosie O’Donnel will seek out an attorney for the case. Her daughter, Chelsea, remains at home and in good health.

[Photos Courtesy of Mike Coppola/Getty Images & Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office]