As printed in The Assumption Pioneer

By David Reynaud, Editor

 

Lionel Bell Jr., son of Napoleonville police chief Lionel Bell Sr., was arrested and charged Tuesday morning for felony theft of farm equipment.

 

Second term Napolenville police chief Lionel Bell Sr. escorted his son, Lionel Bell Jr. to the Assumption Parish Sheriff's Office Tuesday morning, and handed his son over. Bell is suspected of stealing farm equipment.

Assumption Parish Sheriff Mike Waguespack said Tuesday that Bell Jr., 28, 5375 LA 308, Plattenville, is suspect of stealing roughly $50,000 in farming equipment. Sheriff's deputies have been searching for Bell since last Friday, when a sugar cane farmer reported heavy farming equipment was stolen from a Plattenville farm.

Waguespack said an employee of the farm witnessed a white vehicle parked several times on the farm property in the week before the theft. It was later confirmed and Bell was the driver of the vehicle in question. During the investigation deputies discovered the suspect had sold some of the stolen farm equipment to a scrap company in Morgan City, and after verifying the information, obtained an arrest warrant for felony theft.

Anyone with information concerning the theft of the farm equipment is asked to call (985) 369-2912.