Update on Carlos Bell Investigation, Wednesday afternoon, July 5 from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office

La Plata, MD – Charles County Sheriff’s detectives are continuing their investigation of Carlos Bell, a former instructional assistant at a local middle school, who was charged with the production of child pornography and assault of several middle-school aged children. Investigators have learned additional details regarding Bell’s involvement with youth:

In the fall of 2008, Bell worked as a facility attendant with the Charles County Department of Community Services.  

In the fall of 2015, Bell worked for AlphaBest, a Charles County government contractor that provided before and after school care at J.P. Ryon Elementary School and William B. Wade Elementary School.

In the spring of 2016, Bell volunteered as an assistant coach for a track club, Comets, located in Waldorf. The athletes ranged in age from 15-18 years old.
In addition, detectives received information Bell may have coached or assisted coaching a variety of sports throughout the region.

The Charles County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone whose children may have been coached by Bell to talk with his or her children regarding this matter. If evidence of wrongdoing is suspected, please call 1-800-CALL-FBI. While the CCSO is the primary investigative agency, the FBI established this tip line to assist in the investigation and to help streamline information.

The CCSO is working non-stop with the Charles County Public Schools, Charles County State’s Attorney’s Office, Charles County Health Department and Charles County Government on this investigation. Significant updates will be published as necessary.

La Plata, MD – It is every school system’s greatest fear, and for Charles County Public Schools, their worst nightmare come true.

 

Charles County Sheriff Troy Berry and Charles County States Attorney Tony Covington announced Monday, July 3, that Carlos Deangelo Bell, 30 of Waldorf, has been indicted by a Charles County Grand Jury on three counts of child pornography and two second-degree assault charges for inappropriate sexual contact with minors.

“Carlos Bell is HIV positive,” Berry said.

Berry said the incident came to light through an observant parent who found their child texting late at night back in November 2016. The texts, she noticed, were of a sexual nature. She informed the sheriff’s office and the text was traced back to Bell’s cell phone. Further investigation began when detectives received a tip of possible inappropriate behavior with a student while Bell was coaching track at La Plata High School in December.

“Charles County Public Schools acted immediately, removing Bell from his position as instructional assistant and coach,” Berry said. He added that there are seven known victims, possibly as many as 10.

The sheriff said investigators found nothing of a suspicious nature on his work computer but a search warrant was obtained for Bell’s Waldorf home and a computer and multiple cell phones were seized and sent to the Maryland State Police Forensics Lab for analysis. Once evidence was recovered, Covington’s office was notified and the Charles County Grand Jury handed down an indictment Friday, June 30.

“All we have at this point is a second-degree assault charge,” Covington noted. “The facts that buttress this case are chock full of child sexual assault charges. The investigation is ongoing and more charges will be forthcoming.”

Charles County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kimberly Hill said Bell has not worked for the school system since Dec. 22 and apologized on behalf of the school system.

Bell was hired 2014 and worked at J.P. Ryon Elementary School before being transferred to Benjamin Stoddard Middle School in 2015. He also was a coach for the La Plata High School track team. Hill said two criminal background checks with fingerprints revealed nothing and Berry said subsequent police checks have revealed no criminal record for Bell.

Berry said two of the victims have been tested for HIV with negative results. The students affected appear to be between the sixth and eighth grades.

CCSO has asked the public to call 1-800-CALL-FBI if their child had contact with Bell. They are concerned that the victims they know about may not be the only ones.

Some of the abuse is alleged to have taken place at Benjamin Stoddard in a classroom and Hill was asked how that could have happened.

“If you don’t think I haven’t asked myself that question a thousand times, you’re wrong,” she stated, promising stringent measures to assure no such activity ever happens again.

Bell is being held in the Charles County Detention Center without bond.

Contact Joseph Norris at joe.norris@thebaynet.com

Previous story posted Monday, July 3 early afternoon

Charles County Sheriff’s detectives, with the assistance of the Charles County State’s Attorney’s Office and Charles County Public Schools, have arrested Carlos Deangelo Bell, 30, of Waldorf, in connection with the production of child pornography and three counts of second-degree assault.

Bell, who had been an instructional assistant at Benjamin Stoddert Middle School in Waldorf and a former track coach at La Plata High School, was arrested at his home on June 30 after a Charles County Grand Jury indicted him. He is currently being held at the Charles County Detention Center with no bond.

Detectives began investigating Bell in December when they received a tip of possible inappropriate behavior with a student while he was coaching track. Bell was immediately removed from the school where he worked and was barred from coaching.

Detectives searched Bell’s work computer, but nothing suspicious was found. They also served a search warrant at Bell’s home where they recovered his home computer and other electronics. The devices were submitted to the Maryland State Police Crime Lab where data was subsequently retrieved linking Bell to the production of child pornography. Investigators also determined Bell sexually abused several males on school property, his home and possibly at other locations.

Further, Bell admitted to being HIV positive and evidence was recovered to corroborate that statement. Additional charges are forthcoming.  

Detectives are continuing to sort through materials and evidence in an effort to determine if there are additional victims. Investigators are asking anyone whose child may have had contact with Bell to talk with their children about this matter. 

With the assistance of the FBI, a special telephone number has been established for anyone with concerns about their children relating to this case. That phone number is 1-800-CALL-FBI. The investigation is ongoing.