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Former Kansas City, Kan., police officer sentenced for thefts www.privateofficer.com
Jeffrey M. Bell, 34, was one of three members of a special department unit charged in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Kan., after a joint sting operation by the police department and the FBI.
Authorities arrested them in January 2011 after cash and electronics were left in a house that was under audio and video surveillance. According to Bell’s written plea agreement, he took a Nintendo DS game system during the sting and also admitted to taking electronics while serving previous search warrants.
Bell pleaded guilty earlier this year to conspiracy to deny civil rights.
His attorney, Scott Toth, asked for probation, but Toth said after the sentencing that Bell was prepared to accept whatever sentence the judge deemed appropriate.
“Mr. Bell is extremely remorseful for the damage his actions caused for the public and the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department,” Toth said.
One of the other officers was sentenced last week to one year and one day in prison. The third is to be sentenced Thursday
Source:www.kansascity.com
Kansas police officers confess to thefts while serving search warrant www.privateofficer.com
Kansas City KS Jan 20 2012 A third Kansas City, Kansas police officer has now admitted stealing electronics from a home while serving a search warrant.
The U.S. Attorney’s office said 34-year-old Jeffrey M. Bell pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of conspiracy against civil rights. The statute makes it a crime for police to conspire to deny anyone’s civil rights.
Bell admitted stealing a Nintendo DS handheld game system with a game cartridge while conducting a search. The FBI was monitoring the house as part of a sting operation on the officers. Bell also said he took a PlayStation and some games during an earlier search.
Fellow police officers Darrell M. Forrest and Dustin Sillings pleaded guilty Tuesday to the same count.
All three are also set for sentencing June 5.
