Deseret News | Reader comments: No felony charges in parents' attack

Reader comments
No felony charges in parents' attack

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JASON | 8:47 p.m. Aug. 6, 2008

there was no reason for this familly to go and beat up those guys, if they wanted justice they should of
called the police instead of being the judge jury and executioner I undertand they want to protect the kids but thats not how you protect them

wow | 8:51 p.m. Aug. 6, 2008

I have seen many children in my neighborhood wandering unsupervised sometimes for long periods of time. One neighbor would call me after my kids were in bed asking if I'd seen her 3 and 5 year old. Glad I never took them in, but sent them home, hoping she would let them in or even be home. I called CPS and they told me they couldn't dictate to people how to raise their kids, as long as they weren't beaten or starved. I think the authorities need to carefully question the neighbors to see how attentive these parents were before filing kidnapping charges. Maybe, just maybe they were being cared for in an appropriate way by neighbors who were sick of idiot parents allowing their kids to wander. I also wonder if it was a straight couple who took them in, if the uproar would be the same. People just might be jumping to the wrong conclusion about the motivation these men had for taking these kids in.

Sara | 9:28 p.m. Aug. 6, 2008

I admire those groups working for GLBT, also those online services like the one BiLoves. Many of my friends there have spent their careers working for equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons. I think they are really very great.

Comments continue below

Truth72 | 10:17 p.m. Aug. 6, 2008

My opinion(Holding its value as such)is that the lesson is two fold. 1) One should think twice about taking someone elses child behind closed doors without perental consent, as a violation of this magnitude can and may result in severe pain or death. And 2) If you are a parent of a child that you love dearly, it is your personal responsibility to do whatever it takes to prevent something like this from happening in the first place. Like knowing where your child is at all times. Oh and also, running to the police is not always the answer. As responsible citizens of planet earth we should all start being the solution to our problems, not victims to circumstance. It is the difference between making things happen and wondering what happened.

eac | 11:32 p.m. Aug. 6, 2008

if the children were safe at that point, then there is no reason for some overly aggressive people to take the law into their own hands. since when did salt lake turn into the wild west where we gather our posse for some good old fashion street justice? i hope those raging idiots get prosecuted. and of course the man should still be investigated regarding the kidnapping allegations. they'll need to talk to the kids, but i imagine no charges will be filed against Bell and Fair.

Outraged | 12:32 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

The parents and their friends should have all been charged with felony assault. They should also be investigated for child neglect. It sounds like we have a bunch of idiots working in the Salt Lake County DA's office.

Sad | 2:41 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

According to the article, the children had already been taken away to their home by their mother. They were safe at that point. The break-in occurred later through locked doors and windows, with multiple beatings with a broken eye socket and a TV smashed on heads. Can we justify a violent response? Looks like the neighbors might need serious protection from a dangerous family. Why didn't the mother quiz the kids, then call the police if there seemed to be something amiss? What if it really was just a innocent Samaritan trying to help out? If it was something else, Im sure the police will do what is needed. I thought only senseless violence happens in the middle east? What happened to love thy neighbor as thyself? What happened to not assuming guilt? What happened to not taking law into our own hands? What happened to turning the other cheek? One would think we as humans have risen above this type of base behavior. The Quakers really have taught us the way to respond with love in tragedy. We still have much to learn. The real tragedy here was the violence. To have true world peace we must live it.

John C. | 4:21 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

Here we go...The actions of these parents where very wrong and they should be charged. They should have called the police and let them handle it. But please there is nothing that suggest it is a hate crime. Give me a brake. These people were clealy out of control and would have done the same thing to a hedorsexual. So don't play the pitty party.

Anonymous | 4:58 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

I agree also with outraged: the parents and friends should be prosecuted. There was no reason at all to inflict that kind of physical punishment to that couple. Looks like they are a bunch of salvages that know no law or order in society. It would be interesting to know how long it took for the parents to realize the kids were not with them. Did the man take the kids and then just wait for the parents or did he try to look for them while the kids were in his home?

I have also seen kids wandering outside without any supervision. I have even seen little kids sitting at the porche while mom and dad are "in business". Parents need to be more responsible.

If everybody calls police everytime there are little kids walking around the neighborhood by themselves, maybe the parents finally will learn the lesson.

Runnerboy3118 | 5:17 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

You all need to read the other articles on this story, it said that Bell admited to going thourgh a window to take the kids. This was done when the family was asleep. They got what the deserved.

Bad article | 6:21 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

This article fails to inform the public that the children were at home in bed when they were taken from the home. The parents went into the childrenï¿½s room to find one child in tears and heard their other children crying from a distance. The sounds of the cries lead them to Mr. Bellï¿½s bedroom. It was then that Mr. Bell used the excuse that the kids just wandered into his house. This was from an earlier report by the Deseret News. I'm not saying that this article is even correct but they are pitching people against each other based on really bad facts. So, Deseret News, what story is correct or are they both embellished?

Mike | 6:23 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

I have to agree with Outraged the parents and their friends should be charged with numerous felony counts of aggravated assault. The DA's office must truly be filled with total idiots.

Nathan | 6:26 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

And just how long was Bell planning on having the children over until he notified the parents? A responsible person would've notified the parents (If he knew who they were) immediately, regardless of what time of day or night it is. If my child somehow got outside in the middle of the night while I was asleep and ended up at the neighbors, I sure as heck hope they would notify me as soon as he showed up at their house. That's what makes me think that Bell had some other motive for having the children over. If he was planning on contacting the parents why wait, contact them immediately.

Susan | 6:30 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

Oh, so now if your GAY and you see some children that you want, you can just take them..... Because anything you do you are protected by HATE CRIMES... Okay???

It's Ironic... | 6:54 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

A month after the assaults the Utah Pride Center FINALLY speaks up and then its only to defend a rigged judicial process (that like the media has already convicted the victims in advance). Given the one sided police investigation and the D.A.'s political agenda, I seriously question if Bell can receive a fair hearing, which is terrifying considering the potential sentence he could get. But because these are gay males, South Salt Lake PD and the District Attorneys office seem to be bending over backwards to make sure these assaults are not defined or prosecuted as a Hate Crime.

Check the State records. How many gay males in Utah (despite their disproportionately higher rates of victimization) have EVER been protected since the Hate Crimes Bill became law? Coincidence? I don't think so. If this railroading is what gay victims of violent crimes can expect from the judicial system, then the Hate Crimes law is just a cynical public relations ploy.

I find the Utah Pride Centers belated response disappointing (but not surprising). If these same events had happened to a lesbian couple, their lesbian-centric leadership would have mobilized that day and South Salt Lake would be in flames.

Media is horrible... | 7:09 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

Susan and Nathan, you are both prime examples that the media can swindle anyone to believe what it wants you to believe.
Nathan, Deseret News does not have all the facts, and if you think they do, I'm very sorry for you. How do you know Bell had them for hours, or even one hour?
And Susan, your comment is just ridiculous. I'm glad that you know all the facts about the story as well. That Bell TOOK the children rather than helping them (do we really know which is true?), and that he was doing it because he thought he was protected by the Hate Crimes Law and could take any child he wanted because of this protection. Give me a break. You are very naive.

samhill | 7:23 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

I must admit that based on the sketchy information initially available (that missing children had been found in the house next door, crying) I found it perffectly understandable that the children's family had knocked the captors (an appropriate term given those sketchy "facts") around a bit.

Now, it appears that the family was completely in the wrong. The children had been secured and were safe. The response at that point became nothing more than aggravated assault. Including on someone who, apparently, was completely innocent.

I will be interested to continue to learn more about the particulars of this case. If the investigation concludes with the same basic information as provided in this article, it would seem inevitable that the family of those children will be facing some time behind bars. Maybe they will be in the same prison as Mr. Bell.

Runnerboy 3118 | 7:24 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

I agree with you. You come into my home and take one of my children, see what happens. Don't play the hate card here. This is a predator picking on young children for his lustful satisfaction.

Typical for Utah | 7:40 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

Our DA office would reject any notion that a crime actually was committed. Lets look at the evidence. Two men severely beaten with the accusers admitting to beating Bell and his partner. Clear evidence..clear admission. They have not been charged, they have not been taken from their homes or loved ones. On the other side, DJ Bell, accused kidnapper sits in jail waiting trial, with absolutely NO evidence that he TOOK the children against their will. Doesn't something seem seriously wrong with this picture?

The family was having an ALL night party. Who knows what all was going on. Reports state the children went to Bell's house looking for their parents. Where were the parents? Are we as citizens supposed to turn away children in need?

I am completely appalled that our DA's office is being so ridiculous about this action. They have clearly set a precedent that it is ok for someone to beat another person and get away without punishment.

We will all remember this at election time Mr. Salt Lake District Attorney. You should start packing your boxes to leave your position now!

REST OF THE STORY | 7:43 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

the children weren't out walking by themselves, they were in their beds and this Bell guy took them out of their home..........READ THE REST OFTHE STORY -

In my opinion they didn't get enough, and hopefully, the next weirdo that takes a child might think twice!!!

Todd | 7:53 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

Alright, another great example of how the gay community uses logical fallacy to play the victim. "It's a hate crime, it's a hate crime, it's a hate crime." They'll always try to frame everything "gay." It's a ruse.

Cosmo | 7:56 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

If they had entered my house, taken my children, they would be "Dead"!

Conejo | 8:02 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

According to one account these people knew each other, which is how the mother knew to look at his house in the first place. IF the children were found wandering it would be such a simple thing to take them to the parent's house to ensure their safety. They didn't do that for some reason. I have also not heard anything about Mr. Bell having called the police or DCFS. All he apparently chose to do is bring them into his house and (according to the mom) tell them how beautiful they were. If these are the facts and there isn't any other information, this is definitely abnormal behavior which would have resulted in more abnormal behavior.

are you kidding me? | 8:20 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

A man comes into a house takes the children. The family of the children become upset and with out thinking beat up the kidnapper and it becomes a hate crime against the kidnapper. Wow why does it matter if he is gay or straight, a kidnapping is a kidnapping. He took the kids from their home and scared them. I am sorry but I do not understand the mentality of people who allow anyone to scare children and then let them get away with it because they are gay. What the parents did to him afther he took the kids from theri home was wrong but understandable, what he did by taking the kids was wrong but NOT understandable. Please don't let him get away with it becaue next time he might not be stopped in time before doing real harm to children!!

Anonymous | 8:21 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

I love all of this second guessing people feel so justified in providing. If someone enters a parents home, takes the children, has them in a back bedroom of their home, are you not going to risk your life to protect your children? Your children in the back bedroom of a man without your knowledge, trust, or approval would not spark any emotion? You would simply call the police? Either you don't have children, or, for whatever unnatural reason, don't have that protective parental instinct that is inherent in most parents who love their children. I agree completely with Runnerboy 3118 ... just see what happens if you mess with my children!

bilbo | 8:35 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

Of course, it goes unsaid that North America Man Boy Love Association os also watching this very closely.
If you are a Homosexual neighbor, you can remove a neighboring child through a winow...from a house...without permission and still be a victim?
Come on, Gays, where is your reality?
If ANYONE come into my house/yard and removes my children...what can I say?
Sure...call the cops. They are experts at crime scene security and body removal.
This neighbor is a victim because he is a Homosexual?
Get Real!

uncannygunman | 8:42 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

Unbelievable. Hopefully SSLC will be a little more concerned with this kind of wild west violence than the county is.

Stories Changing | 8:44 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

Charges may need to be filed, probably in fact, but this is ridiculous to call it a hate crime. The stories are all wrong, these children were a boy and a girl, and were not siblings but cousins. And, the family is not Tongan, therefore can not be Tongan Crips.

AND, why is no one pointing out the fact that Mr. Bell and his family have changed their story about the reason the children were in his home? FIRST Version: The mother allowed him to take them into his home so that they could sleep becuase the party was too loud (there were other children sleeping just fine) and then she forgot because she was so drunk...SECOND Version: The children knocked on his door, looking for their mother (which was said to be verified by a "witness")...THIRD Version today: The children were wandering around and were taken in so their parents (who were outside within shouting distance of Bell's front door)could be found. You can verify every one of these versions if you read previous articles.
Well...I guess there are reasons the Pride Center reps didn't jump all over this as a Hate Crime...huh!

which article is true? | 8:52 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

The Deseret News needs to be more responsible in their reporting. How to we know what is true when different articles tell different stories? Please print a retraction when you find out that one of the stories that you printed was erroneous.

more "facts" | 9:36 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

In one report it said the children were in the bedroom (at Bell's place) crying when the mother found them. They had been missing for only a short time (less than one hour). Bell told the mother he was waiting to take them home until he had changed his clothes. He was apparently in PJ's???

Who cares if parents have an "ALL night party". They were checking on the kids throughout the night.

That said, the family returning to punish them for taking the children is assault. It is not a "hate crime" because I am sure the same thing would have happened to any man in his PJ's who took the children into his bedroom (while he changed into clothes) INSTEAD of taking them or leaving them at home as the case may be!

in defense of the DA | 9:40 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

Clearly the facts of the case are not crystal clear, with conflicting versions of how the kids ended up in the neighbor's home. Also, the DA likely has access to more of the facts than the public appears to have. I think it's premature to start casting dispersions on the DA's office before we know all of the facts.

Anonymous | 9:50 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

IF the children were outside alone and nobody was at their home, I would understand why Bell took them to his place.

But if Bell took them from their home as someone stated here... be sure I would've kick the heck out of him too. What else could you expect from a man taking my children from my house?? gay or not gay, check on the past news about children being taken by adults and found later they were raped and murdered.

Lesson: call the police next time

RL | 10:42 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

Both were in the wrong. I would NEVER take someone's children into my home without their parents knowing about it. Period. On both sides, the police should have been called immediately. People need to stop taking things into their own hands when they clearly aren't making good decisions! Beating them is hardly the thing to do... come on! As for it being a hate crime, the term itself is so stupid. Of course it's a "hate" crime! Any crime involves hate of some form.

Matthew | 10:49 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

A mob that takes "the law" into their own hands and breaks the law needs to be held accountable. If the story is accurate, that the beatings took place after the children were back at home, then the DA needs to rethink this one. Two wrongs don't make a right.

RE: SARA | 10:54 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

save the GLTB plugs for somewhere else... you didnt even comment on the story! lame.

As for this article... OBVIOUSLY we need the real facts which apparently the DN isn't capable of providing us at this time.

BobP | 11:17 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

The authorities aren't going to prosecute. Why? Because they know darn well that no Jury in the State of Utah would convict the abusers. Being gay in a strongly anti gay society is a risk.

Richard Nibbler | 11:36 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

It seems as though there are a number of "facts" related to this story...if in fact Bell, took the kids out of their own bed, or had them in a bed in his house, then I think the parents had every right to be angry and seek revenge. However, that doesn't mean they take the law into their own hands and bet the *BLANK* out of these two guys. We have what is called the Police Department, and one can call this department and ask that they investigate situations and arrest anyone who might have broken the law.

If the children were in fact wandering around, then the parents were totally out of line and it was a charitable act on Bells part to take the kids in. However, if this were the case, then he too could have called the Police to come out and question the parents. And, he should have notified the parents that he had the children at his house.

Bottom line is either the parents were in fact neglectful, or Bell was up to no good. Which ever is the story, neither Bell nor his buddy should have been beaten.

Sarah | 11:41 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

Whether or not Bell's motivations were innocent, he admitted to taking the children out of their bed when the family was asleep, and the mother heard the kids crying in Bell's bedroom when she went looking for them. I think any parent would react in a similar manner to the way these parents reacted. If you found your child, who you thought was asleep in bed, crying in a strange man's bedroom, what would you do? Be honest, now.

Each article about this is vague at best, and there have been several different things added to or left out of different articles. If the DA isn't pressing felony charges due to lack of evidence - and they've SEEN Bell and Fair and their injuries, so there must be plenty of evidence on hand - then there's a reason for that. The DA will have much more of the story than the newspapers will.

Jake | 1:01 p.m. Aug. 7, 2008

Reading comprehension doesn't seem to be very big with a lot of you people. Where does it say that he went into the house and took the children? Where does it say he had them hidden in a back room? READ THE ARTICLE BEFORE COMMENTING!!

to jake | 1:41 p.m. Aug. 7, 2008

this is a follow-up article to other articles that have been written about this case which do outline the circumstances around the children being in this guy's house. Maybe you should read more before YOU comment...anyway, no matter what happened that night, these parents have no right to break into someone's house and beat these guys like they did. Might they have deserved it? Possibly, but does it mean they have the right to do it? NOPE. They seem like the kind of white trash people that don't care about their kids until something happens to them, and then they go way too far w/ it. Punish all of them.

Marketlady | 2:34 p.m. Aug. 7, 2008

So - he goes into a house where the parents are in the yard, takes two children who are sleeping over a fence that is chest high and no child cries as this is done? I don't think he was that stupid. Charges should definately be filed against those who so brutally beat them regardless of anything else. Each time this comes up a different story appears from the papers and TV with a new twist. "The mills of God grind slowly, but they grind exceeding sure." May the truth be told by all.

I agree | 2:57 p.m. Aug. 7, 2008

My humble opinion - No one has the right to take the law into their own hands..No One! Regardless of the emotions involved there are laws and procedures in place for a reason. It may not be the best system but it beats anything else. Vigilante just is criminals going after criminals. Charge these adults with assault and battery as well as breaking and entering. The law needs to be upheld by all, regardless of the situation.

embarrassing | 3:18 p.m. Aug. 7, 2008

I cannot believe the parents behaved in this fashion. If they noticed their children missing, they should have contacted the Police. They have no right, regardless of if the neighbor had or had not kidnapped the children to round up an angry mob to attack the neighbor and his sleeping housemate. I am terribly embarrassed the children have such out of countrol parents. I am embarrassed by the behavior of the parents. Ridiculous!

Why the bedroom | 3:28 p.m. Aug. 7, 2008

I am suspicious, not because they are gay but why did Bell take the children in his bedroom? If they wandered around they'd be in the living room, wouldn't they? I would have walked them home immediately, not sure why Bell waited. It is suspicious!!

Candice | 3:45 p.m. Aug. 7, 2008

The story about taking two children over a fence sounds ridiculous a child would be very upset at someone waking them and doing such things much less two children. The police failed in doing their job, it is obvious that this is a case where the police are making their own assumptions and the fact is they should be charged with breaking and entering, assault, and possibly attempted homicide.

Richard G. | 4:01 p.m. Aug. 7, 2008

This is a real dumb decision. The so-called parents wee partying all night and the tired kids went to the neighbors. Unfortunately, this is Utah and the neighbrs were gay and the bigoted parents just assumed that gay people are molesters and had their friends/relatives assault them.

This was a hate crime, and the fact the DA won't prosecute shows how Utah is still the Mississippi of the Rockies.

Moral of the story... | 4:18 p.m. Aug. 7, 2008

If you see a wandering child, run away as fast as you can.

They said, they said | 5:10 p.m. Aug. 7, 2008

The "facts" from previous stories saying the children were taken from their home through a window are the mom's version. People at the Bell home say they were minding their own biz when the kids wandered in as their parents were partying and not paying attention to them.

There is a lot of discrepancy between the two versions and no one should go around saying what the "facts" are. They haven't been established other than everyone admits the friends and family of the kids broke into Bell's home and beat the crap out of him and his partner.

why the bedroom | 5:20 p.m. Aug. 7, 2008

There were other adult guests at Bell's home that night. The kids were put in the bedroom to go to sleep since it was late. They weren't in the livingroom cuz that's where the rest of the guests were.

Re: Moral of the story... | 5:37 p.m. Aug. 7, 2008

If the child is "wandering" in their OWN bedroom... then yes run away but don't take them with you! That is called kidnapping!
The parents are guilty of assault but not the legal term "hate crime" because the assault was because of the kidnapping.

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