Bell bond hearing might come today
JENA -- Mychal Bell, who has been jailed for more than nine months, could be granted bond today.
During a recusal hearing at 10 a.m. today, 9th Judicial District Court Judge Tom Yeager will decide if a different judge will rule over Bell's sentencing than the one who presided over his jury trial, a court official said.
If Yeager decides there is a conflict with 28th Judicial District Court J.P. Mauffray presiding over the bond hearing, Yeager will hear it today.
A 72-hour deadline from the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal gives the court until Monday to have a bond hearing for Bell, who currently is being held without bond.
Bell is the first of six black Jena High School students known as the "Jena Six" to face trial in connection with a Dec. 4 incident at the school that left white student Justin Barker unconscious and bleeding. Barker was treated for about three hours at a local emergency room.
Bell, along with the others, was charged initially with attempted murder and conspiracy to commit that crime.
He was convicted in June of aggravated second-degree battery and conspiracy to commit that crime, the highest charge possible after LaSalle Parish District Attorney Reed Walters reduced his charges just before the trial.
On Sept. 4, Mauffray ruled that Bell's conviction of conspiracy should have been handled in the juvenile court but contended that he had jurisdiction for the battery charge.
On Sept. 14, the 3rd Circuit ruled that the battery conviction as well should have never been handled in the adult judicial system and tossed the charge back to juvenile court. Walters has said he is considering appealing that decision but hasn't had the time to research the case.
Bell was denied bond on Aug. 24 during a hearing with Mauffray who cited previous criminal behavior.
His bond had been set for $90,000 before his felony conviction. After a conviction, there is no bond until a bond hearing is held to determine the amount of bond.
During the August bond hearing, four past adjudications were brought into evidence two charges of battery and two of criminal damage to property.
On Thursday, the thousands packed onto the courthouse lawn chanted "Free Mychal Bell now!" Many questioned why he was in jail.
At one point during Thursday's rally, there were rumors flying around that Bell had been freed.
A woman walking on First Street on Thursday shouted to a crowd, "Mychal is free" and cheers went up from those in earshot.
Soon, the word continued to spread as people walked to and from the downtown rally area.
LaSalle Parish Sheriff's Office officials, however, confirmed that Bell still was being housed in the LaSalle Correctional Center in Urania and will remain there until granted bond and the bond is paid.
Louis Scott, a member of Bell's defense team, said Thursday that the 3rd Circuit's ruling was a culmination of a lot things that had been in the works.
He said the hearing requires that cause is shown why Bell should continued to be held.
When asked how Bell is doing, Scott said he had not talked with Bell on Thursday and did not know how much the teen had seen of what was happening in Jena.
Scott said he was surprised by how many people came to the march but thought more could have come.
He said some travelers were stopped coming in to Jena and that the crowds could have swelled to 100,000 people.
Robert Clark of Monroe came with friends in a recreational vehicle stocked with a sound system. He said he raised more than $26,000 for Bell's bond and the Jena Six Defense Fund. Rock star David Bowie announced earlier this week he had donated $10,000 to the defense fund.
"Mychal may have a lot of problems right now," Clark said, "but money is not one of those."
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