UDPATED 1:18 P.M.
PEORIA, Ill. (25 News) – A man who allegedly shot a Peoria County Sheriff’s Office deputy earlier this year has chosen to represent himself during his upcoming trial.
In court on Friday morning, Larry Bell, 52, told Peoria County Associate Judge Sean Donahue that he was sure he wanted to represent himself throughout the remainder of the case.
Bell is accused of shooting Peoria County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jack Evans twice during a traffic stop in South Peoria on January 31.
Bell’s public defender, Danielle Sipiora, told Judge Donahue that she has had trouble communicating with Bell. She said he had refused to talk with her a week ago, and at his hearing on Thursday afternoon, Bell told her that he did not want to speak with her.
Sipiora said that at the start of the case, she had requested the redacted evidence documents from the state that Bell had asked for, as well as reviewed motions he wanted submitted to the court. She decided some motions would not be adopted because they were not relevant or applicable to the case.
Judge Donahue pointed out to Bell that his attorney had worked to help him through the case and his various requests, also organizing a paralegal to come help him access available legal documents while jailed in Tazewell County.
Bell told the judge that the court has failed to protect his rights and that there has been little talk about a trial strategy. He asked Donahue to be represented by a BAR Association attorney, in which the judge denied, saying “that council is not of your choosing.”
Bell is charged with five felonies, including attempted first degree murder. That charge could land him in prison for 31 years to life.
Peoria County Assistant State’s Attorney Terry Muench said he could face additional years due to his record, as well as discretionary consecutive sentencing if he is found to have caused great bodily harm. This would require Bell to serve multiple prison terms one after another rather than simultaneously.
Muench said the state would work on providing Bell with the discovery documents he needs to represent himself during the remainder of the case within the next week.
Bell is expected to return to court on Thursday to schedule his trial date.
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PEORIA, Ill. – (25 News) – A Peoria man who allegedly shot a Peoria County Sheriff’s Office deputy earlier this year told the judge he wanted to represent himself during court on Thursday.
Larry Bell, 51, is accused of shooting Peoria County Deputy Jack Evans during a traffic stop on January 31.
On that date, Bell allegedly shot Evans twice near South Western Avenue. The shooting happened after Bell ran from the deputy, leading to a chase.
Peoria County Sheriff’s Office deputies said they found Bell hiding in an abandoned building nearby, recovered a handgun, and saw that Bell had methamphetamine.
He is charged with five felonies, including attempted murder, which could land him a life sentence if he is found guilty by a jury.
Bell has teetered between wanting a public defender and representing himself throughout the case.
He is scheduled to return to court Friday morning for a pre-trial hearing.
(Reporting by Liz Lape, 25 News)
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