Former HIV Positive School Aide Responsible for Sexually Assaulting 42 Students
An investigation into the former school aide/track coach, Carlos Deangelo Bell, at a Charles County, Maryland middle school. According to authorities, following a July indictment against the educator, it has now been learned that a total of 42 victims were sexually assaulted by Bell at the time – twice the amount that was originally founded.
30-year-old Bell is accused of assaulting students, ranging in age from 11 to 17, between May 2015 and June 2017. The assaults happened to students at Benjamin Stoddert Middle School where he was a teacher’s aide and at La Plata High School, where he was a track coach. In addition to being accused of sexually assaulting students, he is also accused of recording some of the sex acts with students on his cellphone over the nearly two year period as well.
As WTOP reports, some of the assaults took place on school grounds and fourteen victims have still not been identified.
The new 206-count indictment against Bell lists 22 counts of sex abuse of a minor. Each count carries a 25-year sentence. It also lists 19 counts of second-degree sex offense as it relates to force as well as 19 counts for the age of the victims. 97 counts are listed against Bell for filming child pornography.
Due to his HIV positive status, he has also been charged with five additional counts for attempting to transfer the virus. As of now, some students have been tested for HIV and there is no news of a victim being tested as positive thus far. Fox 5 reported that Bill didn’t wear protection when he assaulted his victims.
Despite the newly issued indictment and Bell’s arrest in June 2017, the investigation still remains ongoing. Charles County’s State Attorney Tony Covington said that if Bell is convicted, he will be seeking life sentence against the abuser.
Bell has a trial date set for January 8, 2018.
Photo Credit: WTOP
