Deseret News | Jury hears 2 versions in kidnap case

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Jury hears 2 versions in kidnap case

JS | 10:02 a.m. Sept. 22, 2009

They took the kids without the parents knowledge..
He was invited to the party so he knew the parents or at least someone that was there - so why did he not tell someone where the children were?
Just because there was drinking - does not mean that everyone was drunk.. does it?
They may have meant no harm in letting the children into their home... but they should have let the parents know!

anon | 10:31 a.m. Sept. 22, 2009

Now seriously, you take someone's children into your house without letting the parents know where the children were? NO! You don't take other people's kids. If it acts like a perv it probably is one. Just because the gay community can be persecuted in many situations it does not automatically give it's members a pass on this behavior.

Lionheart | 10:34 a.m. Sept. 22, 2009

This prosecution stinks to high heaven. Bell's story sound completely true. The kids were wandering around outside, the parents were drunk, he took the little guys in. Has he any previous behavior that would indict him? Haven't heard it yet. The trial at this point looks like a kangeroo court.

Comments continue below

newenergies | 10:49 a.m. Sept. 22, 2009

I can see a neighbor taking my kids into a home after parting with me all night, without ill intent. After you are at a party, it forms a community, when you care and look out for each other. I am sure he felt like part of this community and felt like, "well if I am done parting and the parents are not, someone has to take care of the young ones." From his story, I don't see any ill intent here.

Loren | 11:13 a.m. Sept. 22, 2009

How did they know there the children were? I think it is very possible that the parents were drunk and the kids were wandering around. how many times have any parents turned their back and the kids had walked away to go play with someone they know? the fact that he has no previous charges is a good point normally there is a past record. and normally they act alone not with their partner

SLC gal | 11:40 a.m. Sept. 22, 2009

They forget the paart where the neighbors took the children out of the home, and instead of calling the cops, returned to beat the snot not only out of the person in question, but his partner as well - who was SLEEPING at the time. One of the thugs used a flat screen TV as a weapon!!!!This is a bad misunderstanding that turned into a hate crime.

I think | 11:42 a.m. Sept. 22, 2009

there's a lot to be considered here. If they were all close friends, then the parents should not have burst into his house and beaten him. (I saw the news photos of his face after being beaten and it was AWFUL.) I wonder why he didn't call the authorities in this case, but I sort of think that he really didn't want the parents to be prosecuted. Does it seem innocent to anyone except me that at such a late hour, even with the children in his bedroom - which might be a normal place to be so late at night, early in the morning - that his doors were unlocked, showing that he wasn't trying to hide or restrain the children? The parents and neighbors evidently didn't have any trouble getting into his house and, for some reason, they knew right where to go. My heart tells me that he is innocent.

I think... | 11:45 a.m. Sept. 22, 2009

that when I said that Mr. Bell didn't call the authorities because he thought that the parents might be prosecuted, I meant that he didn't call the authorities at the time the children were with him, not after the parents had beaten him.

should have called the police | 11:56 a.m. Sept. 22, 2009

He should have called the police when he found the children wandering around.
He probably did not want to cause problems with his neighbors, but wanted to make sure the kids were safe.
What I do not understand is why the parents of the children were never charged with anything for neglegence of the children.
If you want to have a big party and drink until the wee hours of the night go to wendover or las vegas and get a baby sitter.

SdSmith | 1:57 p.m. Sept. 22, 2009

I have read the story from Mr. Bell's point of view, and to me, it rings far more true than what the parents are alleging. According to Mr. Bell, the kids actually came to his door for help finding their parents in the crowd of partygoers. All he did was let them in and get ready to go find the parents, when they burst in accusing him of kidnapping. It is a travesty that he is being tried, while there were no charges against the parents for either neglect, or for the attack.

Duh! | 2:32 p.m. Sept. 22, 2009

"Many people in the gay community are furious that Bell, who is gay, is being depicted as a child molester."

Ok,OK, so WHY did these kids end up in his bedroom? It sounds like he is gay AND a child molestor. The "Gay" community should be outraged that this man was going to molest some children. So why aren't they?

Bell innocent? | 2:59 p.m. Sept. 22, 2009

Bell has not been charged with child molestation, so I don't even know why this is being brought up. He took children who were not his, without the parents' permission, into his home. The fact that the parents were so upset shows that this was not some "community" watch-out-for-everyone's-kids type of situation. Claiming Bell is innocent is like saying because I steal someone's money but then claiming I had no ill-intent doesn't mean I'm not guilty of stealing your money. It is still theft. Bell is still, by definition, a kidnapper - it doesn't matter what he claims he was trying to do, or whether or not he had intentions to molest the children (although having them in his bedroom certainly doesn't help). He's guilty of kidnapping, and the parents and their cohorts are guilty of assault and battery. End of story.

Really? | 3:02 p.m. Sept. 22, 2009

Let's see, a lone kidnapper who weighs about 150 pounds, breaks into a house full of partying Polynesians, abducts not one, but two children, climbs over a fence with them to his house next door which is also full of people (and would be the first place to be canvassed by the police).

Hmmm...Sounds like the worst crime plan EVER! Or maybe this kidnap story is just a smoke screen for some bad parenting.

dj | 9:26 p.m. Sept. 22, 2009

what a difficult case to try - the jury has a momentous task ahead of them

Saving the children | 4:12 a.m. Sept. 23, 2009

What's with this prosecutor? Has he gone nuts? When it comes to helping a child even if it means taking them to someplace they feel wanted is not kidnapping, it helping them. This prosecutor is confusing giving aid to children with child neglect and parental abuse. You see a child wandering the streets its human nature to want to help them, especially when you know the lifestyles in their parents homes. Helping a neighbor, whether its a child or adult, seems to be illegal in the eyes of this prosecutor. Knowing the children and the parents this man was being kind, not criminal.

The parents of the children are on a rampage now because they got caught in child neglect, which is very much a consideration in the charges of kidnapping. In many neighborhoods there are safe houses for children to go to in times of need or safety and this was the man's intent.

Mahershalalhashbaz | 6:19 a.m. Sept. 23, 2009

You mess with mama bears cubs and you get what's coming to you. Bad parenting? No way. They were quick and saved their kids in the nick of time. Bell is lucky to be alive.

SLC gal | 7:21 a.m. Sept. 23, 2009

If he was trying to do something bad, would have taken the children into the room where his partner was sleeping? Come on now!!!

Phil | 7:42 a.m. Sept. 23, 2009

Sounds like the Prosecuter has nothing else to do but waste Tax Payers money. What about the family memebers who almost killed both of these people. i have seen Polonysian beatings and they are vicious. I also know the Bell Family and the are very even tempered and always willing to help. Our Youngest son was always over at the Bells house and never a worry or threat was posed. Time to change the Prosecution and go after the parents of the kids for neglect and the remaining family for the break in and the beatings.

Cali Marty | 7:50 a.m. Sept. 23, 2009

So, children have no rights??

Chris | 8:19 a.m. Sept. 23, 2009

Mahershalalhashbaz, if mama bear were watching her cubs maybe they wouldn't of had to find someone to help them find their mama bear. And since when is it ok to beat a man to deth? Lets get all the facts.

Rob | 8:44 a.m. Sept. 23, 2009

Doing the "right" thing sometimes is the wrong thing?

No one but Bell really knows his intentions and it is very difficult NOT to judge Bell's actions. A lot is left to the readers imagination from the report. I myself might react the same as the family of the children.

But, I think too much information is left out for one reader to really form an intellegent opinion on this event.
Bad Parenting by the family?? -- Maybe, maybe not
Nefarious intentions by Bell?? -- Maybe, maybe not

I am quite sure, during the questioning of the children, if they felt any sort of sexual molestation had occured, Bell would be arrested on charges of SEXUAL ASSAULT and not KIDNAPPING.

2 wrongs do not make a right. The people involved in the attack on Bell should be held accountable for their actions...

Wrong on all sides...and its the children that ultimately suffer...
My heart goes out to the kids in this situation

missed earlier articles | 9:08 a.m. Sept. 23, 2009

So did I miss it in an article somewhere....

How old are the children?

And what are the children saying?

Anonymous | 9:19 a.m. Sept. 23, 2009

Someone please explain to me why it's unreasonable to yell, or even swear, at someone, threaten someone, or even beat someone, if you have any reason to believe they kidnapped your children and you found them IN HIS BEDROOM saying things like "YOU GUYS ARE BEAUTIFUL"?????

John Harvey | 9:52 a.m. Sept. 23, 2009

Bell should have called the cops when he saw the children wandered around unsupervised at 2 or 3 in the morning. Since he did not, but instead to the children to his home his is technically guilty of kidnapping.

He probably did not want to make the people mad at him. he probably knew that if they got mad at him he might get beaten up, hence he decided (wrongly) to not risk calling the cops on the negligent parents. The fact the neighbors nearly killed him anyway suggests he was in a bind, if he wanted to help the kids (which apparently he did) he had no good options.

The neighbors should be of course charged with assault, battery, trespassing, property damage, and a host of other crimes as well.

Hey | 10:09 a.m. Sept. 23, 2009

What happened to "Innocent before proven guilty"?

Or is that only for popular seminary teachers?

Roger S. | 10:32 a.m. Sept. 23, 2009

Seems to me the defendant is hiding behind a "discrimination" defense. Remember, he was a guest at their party, and people don't normally invite people they hate or discriminate against to their house parties.

Questions he needs to answer: why did he take the children into his home? And why did he take them into his bedroom? Further, if he found the children wandering around, as he says, why didn't he call the police or at least walk them back to their own home?

Willy | 11:02 a.m. Sept. 23, 2009

With all of these "Bell is obviously innocent" posts. I can't believe that no one has mentioned that he could answer all of the police questions accurately he had no idea how the children actually got into his house. Let me see DOB, check, name, check, weight, check, address, check, whats up with the children in your house, I just got beat up so now my memory switched from they came to my house for help to I took them and shouldn't have. Yup no doubt in my mind that he didn't take them.

slc reader | 11:43 a.m. Sept. 23, 2009

Why have the thugs who broke into Bell's house not been charged with a crime? Hello Salt Lake District attorney? If Bell was the Bishop of the local ward, this would have been handled differently.

RE: Lionheart | 11:49 a.m. Sept. 23, 2009

taking children in who are wandering around is NOT the same as having two children in a bedroom without their parent's permission or knowledge. Explain that one....did he call the police to report two children being out and needing help?

SLC gal | 12:14 p.m. Sept. 23, 2009

Willy,

He has stated in prev. articles, that the children KNOCKED on his door.

Utahmen | 2:03 p.m. Sept. 23, 2009

As a gay couple living in Salt Lake City, my partner and I now have no choice but to turn our backs on our neighbors' children who, incidentally, roam the streets unattended and at all hours of the day and night. As much as it would kill me, I wouldn't dream of trying to protect one of these neighborhood kids if they came knocking on my door like they have in the past. Thanks to the prosecution for making it this way for all of us.

Political payback | 2:22 p.m. Sept. 23, 2009

This unjust prosecution is Salt Lake District Attorney Lohra Miller's bid to win political support from the county's Polynesian community. She knows she'll never get meaningful support from the gay community.

Shame on her and those in her office who are complicit in this prosecution.

@Willy | 2:43 p.m. Sept. 23, 2009

Willy,

I guess you missed this part of the article:
Further, Gustin said Bell's comments to police are "nonsensical and unbelievable" because he had sustained a mild traumatic brain injury during the "savage" beating administered by some individuals who had been at Latu's party. --

A beating to the head is likely to cause problems with remembering everything.

MIchael | 4:57 p.m. Sept. 23, 2009

Since when is it legal in any state to break into someone’s home and savagely attack the owners. It is clear just from the news stories that these citizens’ constitutional rights were violated. The last time I checked Utah was part of the Untied States and subject to the Constitutions.

Dan | 6:14 p.m. Sept. 23, 2009

This is a difficult case, and I'm very glad I'm not on the jury - the problem here is that those family members need to be charged with assault. I believe that I would probably have acted the same way and done all I could to protect my children, but that doesn't excuse the violence. Aren't we taught that it's never ok for us to take the law into our own hands?

Secondly, Mr. Bell knows better than to take two children into his bedroom (even if they knocked on his door). It doesn't matter - it's NEVER ok to take a child who isn't your child into your bedroom with you, and I would never think of doing it with one of my children's friends. According to the definition of the law, by not returning the children when they came to Mr. Bell's home (or however it happened), he is guilty of kidnapping. The family members of the Latu's are also guilty of assault - let's hope they get charged with their crimes soon.

JayTee | 7:41 p.m. Sept. 23, 2009

Some of you writers better hope you never get ACCUSED of a crime, because there are people like you out there who would lynch anyone at the drop of a hat, and with no evidence or proof whatsoever. It's flat scary that people choose to believe nearly anything simply because kids are involved in the allegation. Are you crazy, ignorant, mentally challenged, or all of the above?

Beth | 12:32 p.m. Sept. 24, 2009

I am a single mother. If I took those kids in we all know I would not have suffered a violent beating and charged with kidnapping. No one has mentioned that Bell had friends over as well (who had to hide while they heard their friends beating and attempted murder). Who kidnaps kids with guests over? How could Bell climb a fence with two kids in his arms? This is not a hard trial at all, its a joke! Bell has no criminal history, the thugs who administered this beating/attempted murder have a history of purjering themselves to police and assault and battery. This is an obvious hate crime which has been further inflicted by the authorities who are supposed to protect innocent citizens.

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5 photos

Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

David James Bell, charged with child kidnapping and burglary, waves to family prior to opening arguments in 3rd District court in Salt Lake City Tuesday.

Gallery (5 photos)