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Former Iredell GOP chairman appeals conviction
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Published: October 3, 2009
A former chairman of the Iredell County Republican Party immediately appealed his conviction in district court Thursday on two counts of sexual battery and two counts of assault on a female.
Clarence "Butch" Woodrow Bell Jr., 59, was arrested on the misdemeanor charges in April after a woman who cleaned the offices where he worked claimed he had inappropriate contact with her, Mooresville Police Chief Carl Robbins said.
The woman hesitated to come forward because of Bell's political position in Iredell County and was afraid no one would believe her, Robbins said.
Investigators allowed her to take an audio device to record what Bell said, which was used as evidence in court, Robbins said.
Bell received a suspended sentence, which means probation instead of jail time, said Jonathan Friel, Forsyth County assistant district attorney.
However, the district court's sentence is vacated pending the appeal to Iredell County Superior Court, Friel said.
Friel was assigned to the case after Iredell and Alexander county prosecutors recused themselves from the case.
If Bell is found guilty of sexual battery in Superior Court, he will have to register as a sex offender, Friel said.
A new trial date has not be scheduled.
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