BY JANICE MORSE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HAMILTON -- An array of witnesses Wednesday -- including a Middletown city commissioner, a Miami University official and a former high school principal -- described a Hamilton preacher accused of sex crimes as a man of high morals and integrity.
Some of those witnesses, including the man on trial -- the Rev. Darrell S. Bell -- also had complimentary things to say about the 20-year-old relative who is accusing the minister of sexually abusing her since childhood.
Because of the nature of the allegations, The Cincinnati Enquirer -->is not identifying the woman.
The accuser had been "one of the most outstanding students" at Middletown High School, testified former Principal James Brown. She participated in numerous school activities and received many awards, he said.
Mr. Brown also testified, "Darrell Bell is one of the most law-abiding persons with integrity" that he had ever come to know.
The Rev. Mr. Bell faces six counts of rape, three counts of felonious sexual penetration and five counts of sexual battery. The Butler County Common Pleas Court jury began hearing testimony Monday and is expected to begin deliberations today.
The 44-year-old Middletown man is an AK Steel employee who has been associate pastor of Bethlehem Temple First Pentecostal Church. He also has conducted services at his home on Eighth Avenue in Middletown, calling the congregation the Whole Life Family Assembly. He has been a clergyman for 25 years.
Among the Rev. Mr. Bell's character witnesses was Robert "Sonny" Hill, a Middletown city commissioner for whom the minister served as political campaign manager two years ago.
"He's been a good church man. He's been a good person in the neighborhood," said Mr. Hill, adding he was "terribly hurt" to learn of the accusations lodged against the Rev. Mr. Bell.
Another witness taking the stand in the minister's defense was James Ewers, director of student affairs at Miami University-Middletown. Mr. Ewers said he considered the Rev. Mr. Bell to be "a role model."
The Bell family is undergoing considerable upheaval as a result of this trial, said another witness, adding, "It's been devastating." That witness, a sister of the Rev. Mr. Bell's accuser, denied she had been sexually abused by the minister, as his accuser alleged Monday.
Another alleged victim, an aunt of the accuser, also denied saying she was abused.
Two relatives, however, have verified some statements the accusing witness made in her testimony.
The Rev. Mr. Bell categorically denies any such crimes. "I have never sexually abused (her) or any other child -- anywhere," he testified Wednesday.
To support his claim, the defendant gave a long, detailed description of his child-rearing philosophies and described his attempts to assist the young woman in improving her life. She is in her third year of college and is studying psychology, a major he said he helped her choose.
The Rev. Mr. Bell also says he never stated he had been sexually abused, contradicting testimony of his accuser and of his son, Darrell S. Bell II. They both say he made such a disclosure.
"That is absolutely not true," the Rev. Mr. Bell testified.
