A Texas predator indicted on nine felony counts for repeatedly abusing a child will avoid prison after striking a plea deal with a George Soros–funded Travis County prosecutor.
Richard Leigh Bell, 37, was charged with one count of continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, six counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child, and two counts of indecency with a child.
However, all nine charges were dropped under a plea agreement that allowed Bell to plead guilty to a lesser charge of injury to a child, a third-degree felony, according to a report from KVUE.
Under the deal, Bell received five years of deferred probation with no jail time.
He must register as a sex offender and is prohibited from contacting the victim, her family, or any minors, KVUE reported.
Victim’s Father “Outraged” by Plea Deal
Outside the courtroom on Monday, the victim’s father told KVUE that prosecutors Efrain De La Fuente and Lorraine Garcia never consulted him about the agreement.
“I was outraged to find out that this was not only our first and last plea deal, but this was our deal whether I liked it or not,” he said.
The father, whose name was withheld to protect the child’s identity, said he expected Bell to face prison time.
“I think any parent would expect somebody to rot in jail for doing something like this,” he told the outlet.
“As time went on, I expected a realistic plea deal to be years at least—long enough to serve some time in prison where you belong if you have successfully carried out pedophilic acts.”
Under Texas law, deferred adjudication allows a defendant to avoid a formal conviction if probation is completed successfully.
However, any violation can trigger sentencing on the original charge.
Bell’s probation conditions, including mandatory sex offender registration and no-contact restrictions, will remain in place for the full five years.
Controversy Around Travis County DA Jose Garza
Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza’s office has not issued a statement regarding the cushy plea deal.
Garza is a progressive prosecutor who took office in 2021 with financial backing from billionaire George Soros.
He campaigned on promises to “reimagine” criminal justice and focus on prosecuting police officers.
Garza has defended his record as fulfilling his campaign pledge, saying he is “doing exactly what Travis County voters elected him to do — fixing our broken criminal justice system by standing with survivors, working to end the excessive use of force by police, and prioritizing treatment over incarceration for nonviolent drug offenses.”
Critics argue that Garza’s office has failed to stand up for victims and instead promoted leniency policies that have made Austin less safe.
The district attorney has also drawn criticism for aggressively prosecuting police officers, deepening tensions in a city still divided after the Austin City Council’s 2020 decision to defund law enforcement.
That controversy escalated in 2023, when Garza faced backlash for appearing at the funeral of a fallen police officer, a move that some called “a slap in the face.”
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