« Sexual Abuse Victim Arrested For Possessing Child Pornography | Main | Amber Alert issued after 3 bodies found »
May 17, 2005
Man accused of raping child
PEEKSKILL — A 68-year-old city man surrendered to police yesterday to face charges that he sexually assaulted a 10-year-old girl, building her trust over a three-year period that started out with fondling and ended with rape.
Richard Bell, owner and chief executive of Richard S. Bell Plumbing and Heating in Millwood, was arraigned on several felony charges including first-degree rape, which is punishable by up to 25 years in prison.
"It appears that this is a case of grooming, gradual sexual fondling, sexual assault and then, finally, rape," said Westchester District Attorney Jeanine Pirro, who watched yesterday's arraignment from the jury box at Peekskill City Court. "She was 7 years old when this started."
Pirro and Peekskill Police Chief Eugene Tumolo provided few details about the alleged crime during a news conference afterward, and wouldn't say whether Bell is related to the girl, wanting to protect her identity.
Police began the investigation Tuesday after someone reported Bell to the county's Child Protective Services. According to investigators, the sexual encounters started in 2002 and continued through this year, with several of the incidents occurring in his 637 Ridge St. home.
"Of course, everyone is innocent until proven guilty, but there are allegations that have been substantiated," Tumolo said. "There was probable cause to make an arrest."
Bell, the father of five children, walked into police headquarters at 8:30 a.m. yesterday, turning himself in three days after police obtained a warrant for his arrest. He was charged with rape, first-degree criminal sexual act, first-degree sexual abuse and first-degree course of sexual conduct against a child.
Police also searched his home Friday night and seized about 200 guns from his garage, including handguns, shotguns and assault rifles. Tumolo said some of them are unlicensed, though police have not filed weapons charges.
Some of Bell's neighbors said he was an avid collector, and they don't believe he had any wrongful intentions for them. They also were having a hard time believing Bell could have sexually assaulted the girl, describing him as a model, friendly neighbor.
"If they told me someone on this street had committed that crime, he would be the last I would suspect," said Billy Heffernan, 23, who lives two houses away from Bell and his wife. "They're just people who would help you out whenever needed."
He said Bell had always welcomed him to visit his home to see his collection of guns, war memorabilia and cars, and Bell recently had his company install heaters in Heffernan's home at a reduced rate.
Doris Krug, another neighbor, said, "First of all, I'm shocked. Then my second thought is, it might not be true. It has to be proven. We'll just have to wait and see what happens."
Bell, appearing freshly shaved, made no comments during the arraignment. Judge William Maher approved an order of protection preventing him from contacting the girl.
Later in the day, Bell was taken to the county jail and did not appear in County Court in White Plains for a hastily convened bail hearing. Westchester County Judge Joseph Alessandro set bail at $750,000, more than the $500,000 bail requested by the prosecution. The bail is expected to be posted this morning in County Court, and Bell could be released by this afternoon.
Alessandro said a condition of bail would be that Bell would have to surrender his passport, firearms licenses and any guns he owns that have not already been seized.
Bell's lawyer, Kevin Kitson, said he was unaware of the existence of the warrant until seeing news reports over the weekend. He said his advice to Bell was not to surrender until yesterday, when he would have a chance to go before a judge and have bail set.
Kitson asked for $200,000 bail, saying Bell had no intention to flee and had longstanding family and business ties to the area. He said Bell has run his plumbing business for 35 years and had no criminal record and never hurt anyone. About 15 supporters attended the bail hearing, including some of his children, his ex-wife, friends and three of his employees.
Assistant District Attorney Mary Clark DiRusso said it was clear that Bell would go to any lengths to avoid spending time in jail, even changing his appearance by shaving the beard he had for two decades. She said there was medical evidence that the girl had been raped and that evidence from the carpet where officials allege it occurred was being tested.
Kitson said that could not be semen because his client had surgery for prostate cancer that made that impossible.
Bell is due back in City Court on Monday.
Posted by Nealus at May 17, 2005 04:26 PM
Comments
Post a comment
Thanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out)
(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)
