Nickelodeon Star Chris O’Neal Arrested in Malibu Burglary Case

The former child actor who captured hearts on Nickelodeon now faces a very adult situation. Chris O’Neal, best known for playing Kevin Reed in the 2012 series “How to Rock,” was arrested Monday in connection with a Malibu home burglary.

Law enforcement sources confirm deputies responded to a burglary call at 5:45 AM after a homeowner spotted three adults inside the property through security camera footage. The suspects allegedly entered through the rear of the home and tampered with the surveillance system, preventing further recording of the incident.

O’Neal, 31, was among those taken into custody and booked into the LASD Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station jail. But in a surprising twist, he was released Tuesday afternoon due to “insufficient grounds to file a complaint” against him.

The former child actor built his career on family-friendly entertainment. After his breakout role in “How to Rock,” O’Neal co-hosted the Nickelodeon series “You Gotta See This” with Noah Crawford in 2012. He starred alongside Ariana Grande and Jennette McCurdy in the 2013 Nickelodeon television film “Swindle”.

Between 2017 and 2020, O’Neal reached a new generation of viewers as Daniel Hayward in the Netflix drama series “Greenhouse Academy” . He also made guest appearances on Zendaya’s “K.C. Undercover” in 2015 and starred in the series “5th Ward”.

Beyond acting, O’Neal pursued music as a rapper. He released an EP called “Just Getting Started” in 2014 under the alias Chis O . His Instagram bio currently states that “all [he does] is act and make music”.

O’Neal has not posted to social media since November 2025 and did not immediately respond to requests for comment . Authorities have released no further information about the other individuals involved or the status of the investigation.

For a former child actor who rose to fame playing a high school drummer, this chapter marks an unexpected detour. Whether charges eventually surface or the case quietly closes, the Nickelodeon star now joins the long list of young performers navigating life far beyond the soundstage.