Asheville, NC — David Steven Bell, a 51-year old white man who was convicted of two misdemeanors after assaulting an 11-year old Black girl in January, has only been sentenced to probation and mandatory participation in a “racial justice workshop.”According to reports, Bell pleaded guilty during his trial earlier this week to assaulting two Black girls outside the Asheville Mall.
A video of the incident, which went viral on social media, showed him pushing a 13-year old and punching an 11-year old. Bell was described in the incident report as 6-foot-5 tall and weighs 250 pounds.
A judge sentenced him to a 60-day suspended sentence and unsupervised probation for 12 months. Bell is also required to participate in a racial justice workshop within 90 days, complete counseling for his anger management, and pay court fees of about $200.
Bell claimed he was undergoing long-term treatment for a traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder at that time. He felt threatened by “a large pack of youths” and tried to defend another woman, but he said he regretted using physical force.