FULLERTON, Calif. – A felon was convicted and sentenced today for burglarizing two homes and assaulting and robbing a homeowner on Christmas and fleeing the scene after being shot by the homeowner. Jeremy William Bell, 31, Fullerton, pleaded guilty today to a court offer of two felony counts of first degree residential burglary, one felony count of aggravated assault, and one felony count of robbery, with sentencing enhancements for the personal use of a deadly weapon, and a prior prison conviction in 2012 in Riverside County for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Over the People's objection, Bell was sentenced to three years in state prison.

At approximately 11:30 p.m. on Dec. 24, 2014, Bell broke into an Anaheim home. Bell removed the sliding screen door of a room at the residence but was unable to get inside. The family inside the home noticed an unknown man wearing a ski mask and contacted 911. The defendant subsequently fled the scene. Anaheim Police Department (APD) officers arrived at the residence but were unable to locate the defendant.

At approximately 3:30 a.m. on Dec. 25, 2014, Bell broke into an Anaheim home in a different neighborhood by gaining access inside the home's closed garage. Homeowner John Doe heard noises coming from the garage and went to investigate. The defendant struck John Doe in the face with a metal wrench as the victim opened the garage door. John Doe ran back inside the home and retrieved a shotgun. The defendant fled the scene and stole items from the residence after seeing John Doe armed with a shotgun. John Doe fired one round of birdshot which struck the defendant in the back. APD arrived at the scene and arrested the defendant after finding him hiding outside a nearby garage at a different residence.

Deputy District Attorney Jess Rodriguez of the Special Prosecutions Unit prosecuted this case.

*Defendant fled scene after being shot by homeowner and was caught in neighbor's garage

Orange County District Attorney / Case # 14NF5182/ April 13, 2016