Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin announced that James Bell (age 61), formerly of Middletown, RI, pleaded nolo contendere today before Superior Court Justice Stephen P. Nugent to seven counts of second degree child molestation. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Bell was sentenced to 20 years with eight years to serve and the remainder suspended with probation. In addition, Bell was ordered to undergo sex offender counseling and, upon release, must comply with sex offender registration and community notification.
Had the case proceeded to trial, the State was prepared to prove that between January 1, 2001 and June 30, 2003, Bell, while employed as a gymnastics coach at the Newport County YMCA, molested three girls between the ages of nine and 13.
After an investigation by the Middletown Police Department, Bell was arrested in August 2003. The case was then charged by the Office of Attorney General and Bell was arraigned in Newport County Superior Court on September 25, 2003, and bail was set at $25,000 with surety.
Bell failed to appear for a pretrial conference on July 15, 2004. A warrant was issued for his arrest. Bell was listed on both the Rhode Island and FBI Most Wanted List. The FBI located and arrested Bell in Spokane, Washington on April 29, 2015. He was returned to Rhode Island earlier this year, where he has been held without bail since.
"Today's plea and sentence will hopefully bring a sense of relief to James Bell's victims, knowing he has finally been brought to justice," said Attorney General Kilmartin. "This would not be possible without the commitment and vigilance of law enforcement to track down the defendant and bring him back to Rhode Island to answer for his crimes."
Middletown Police Detectives William Swierk and John Gatta, both now retired, led the initial investigation. Special Assistant Attorney General Roger Demers prosecuted the case on behalf of the Office of Attorney General.