CALDWELL MAN SENTENCED TO 50 YEARS IN PRISON

KWHI March 1, 2018

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A Caldwell man has been sentenced to 50 years in prison by a jury in Burleson County. Orlando Bell, 50, of Caldwell, was convicted Wednesday morning for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. That afternoon, the jury sentenced him to 50 years in prison.

Bell was indicted on February of 2015, after a compliance check conducted by the Texas Department of Public Safety showed Bell was not living at his reported residence. Bell was required to register as a Sex Offender due to a conviction for Sexual Assault in 2006, for which he served a 5 year sentence in prison. The residence Bell reported had, in fact, burned down in September of 2014, and Bell was observed on multiple occasions at his girlfriend’s house in Tunis. Bell asserted he was living in his car at the site of the burned out residence, but surveillance by law enforcement and testimony by neighbors showed otherwise.

As charged, the offense is a third degree felony carrying a punishment range of 2-10 years in prison. Bell’s criminal history, which, in addition to the Sexual Assault conviction, includes multiple convictions and incarcerations for drug delivery and drug possession and extends back to 1994, enhanced the offense to Habitual Felony Offender status with a punishment range of 25-99 years, or life, in prison.

District Attorney Julie Renken commented after the trial “The jury recognized how important registration compliance is and punished Mr. Bell accordingly. As I’ve said numerous times, we will continue to prosecute these cases to ensure the safety of the citizens.”

Full Press Release from the District Attorney's Office:

CALDWELL, TEXAS, March 1, 2018 – Orlando Bell, 50, of Caldwell, was convicted by a Burleson County jury Wednesday morning for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. That afternoon, the jury sentenced him to 50 years in prison. Judge J.D. Langley presided over the trial as a visiting judge. Assistant District Attorneys Erica Morgan and Joan Scroggins represented the State, and Liz Zweiner of Brenham represented the Defendant.

Bell was indicted on February 11, 2015, after a compliance check conducted by the Texas Department of Public Safety showed Bell was not living at his reported residence. Bell was required to register as a Sex Offender due to a conviction for Sexual Assault in 2006, for which he served every day of a 5 year sentence in prison. The residence Bell reported had, in fact, burned down in September of 2014, and Bell was observed on multiple occasions at his girlfriend’s house in Tunis. Bell asserted he was living in his car at the site of the burned out residence, but surveillance by law enforcement and testimony by neighbors showed otherwise. To be in compliance with his sex offender registration, Bell was required to report to the local registrar annually, for the rest of his life. In this case he was charged with failing to report any change of residence within 7 days of the change.

During closing, Erica Morgan called attention to Bell’s history, “He’s a five time convicted felon and could not follow the most basic of rules – report your address to law enforcement. Bell completely disregarded simple rules that he, by virtue of his own acts, must abide by.”

Speaking after the trial, District Attorney Julie Renken again highlighted the importance of registration, “DPS keeps track of sex offenders to protect victims and society from any future harm. When an offender refuses to comply with those requirements they impede law enforcement’s ability to do their job. I want to commend the Criminal Investigation Division agents that handle these cases. They do all they can to keep sex offenders in compliance and hold them accountable.” “Once again,” she continued, “the jury recognized how important registration compliance is and punished Mr. Bell accordingly. As I’ve said numerous times, we will continue to prosecute these cases to ensure the safety of the citizens.”

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