A Shreveport man faces decades in prison following his conviction early Saturday in Caddo District Court on multiple felony charges, including attempted aggravated burglary and possession of a firearm by a felon.
Christopher Michael Bell, 28, was found guilty of both charges at around 1:15 a.m. by a jury that had retired to deliberate just before midnight Friday. Jury selection began Tuesday but proceedings were delayed two days by area flooding, and selection resumed Friday. The trial began at 1 p.m. that day, Caddo District Judge Ramona Emanuel presiding.
Bell was charged after the aggravated burglary of a dwelling in the 9300 block of Lowry Road on July 7, 2015, and for being in possession of a shotgun following his prior conviction in January 2012 in Caddo District Court for attempted armed robbery.
Under Louisiana law, attempted aggravated burglary carries a sentence of up to 15 years but could be enhanced to up to 30 years because of the defendant’s prior criminal record. Conviction of possession of a firearm by a felon carries a sentence of not less than 10 nor more than 20 years and a fine of between $1,000 and $5,000.
Prosecutors in the case were Assistant District Attorney John Aaron Crawford and Assistant District Attorney William Gaskins. The defense attorneys were Kurt Goins and Jasmine Henderson.
The case was continued until March 22 to obtain a setting for sentencing.
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For more information, call John Andrew Prime at (318) 617-5958, or call the Caddo Parish District Attorney’s office at (318) 226-6955.