Legal troubles for James McKinley “Jimmy” Bell Jr., 49, of Tipton Springs Road in Morganton, did not end when he pled guilty December 3 to a pair of charges in Fannin County and was sentenced to probation.
Bell was quickly taken into custody by Polk County authorities and charged with two counts of attempted first degree murder and one count of especially aggravated burglary, according to law enforcement records.
Bell had been held in the Fannin County Detention Center since August 9, 2020, the day after his alleged crimes occurred in Polk County.
On August 8, 2020, he is accused of breaking into a residence on Deal Road in the Grassy Creek area. He allegedly assaulted both residents when they arrived and told him to leave.
The victims were able to escape from Bell and went to a residence on Bethel Church Road in Fannin County to call authorities. Polk County Sheriff’s Captain Keith Barker said both victims sought medical care on their own after reporting the incident.
The next day, shortly after 3 p.m., Fannin County Deputy Sheriff Matthew Peardon, along with deputies Sergeant Jacob Pless and Brian Wingate, were dispatched to the Jack’s River area to the report of a suspicious person fitting Bell’s description.
In his report, Peardon wrote he knew Bell had outstanding warrants out of Polk County. Those warrants, stemming from the August 8 incident, charged Bell with two counts of aggravated assault.
Peardon said he was the first to arrive in the area, and waited at the end of Highway 2 for Pless and Wingate to arrive.
While waiting, Bell drove up to the side of Peardon’s vehicle.
Wingate arrived and Bell attempted to walk away from the deputies.
Pless arrived, found Bell walking away with deputies behind him, stopped the suspect and put him in the back of Peardon’s patrol car without incident, Pless’ report said.
Bell had been held in the Fannin County jail since then, originally on a hold placed by Polk County based on the original warrants. Those chgarges were later upgraded.
A probation violation charge out of Fannin County was added ,and Bell picked up charges for riot in a penal institution and simple battery while in jail.
December 3 he was allowed to plead guilty to one count of theft by taking and one count of simple assault. He received a total of 24 months on probation in addition to a fine and general bond conditions, according to a spokesperson for District Attorney B. Alison Sosebee's office.
Polk County General Sessions Judge Brooklyn Townsend set Bell's bond at $100,000 and a hearing was scheduled for Tuesday, December 15, in Ducktown, Barker said.
As of Monday, December 14, Bell was still being held in the Polk County Detention Center in Benton. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Tuesday, December 15, in Ducktown.