Rabun County man sentenced to serve life behind bars without the option of parole for 2017 rape, kidnapping incident

A Rabun County man was convicted by a jury trial Monday of rape and kidnapping a minor nearly two years ago.

Eugene Bell, 27, was also additionally convicted of aggravated assault. 

The jury trial began on Monday in the Rabun County Superior Court. The jury of 9 women and 3 men heard evidence from witnesses for approximately two and a half days.

Russell W. Smith, Chief of the Superior Courts of the Mountain Judicial Circuit presided over the jury trial.

Bell was convicted of the September 9-10, 2017 Kidnapping, Rape and Aggravated Assault of an underage girl in Rabun County. Due to the nature of the offense and the law, the victim’s name will not be released.

The case was investigated by the Rabun County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Scene Team from Region 8 (Cleveland Office) of the GBI. The Power House for Kids provided forensic interview assistance and medical forensic evidence collection assistance.

Witnesses included the victim, other lay witnesses, Sheriff’s Office personnel, a G.B.I. crime scene agent, a Physician, a nurse specialist, a G.B.I. forensic DNA expert, and a forensic interviewer.

Evidence of a prior 2009 conviction for Sexual Battery against a child under 16 years of age was presented to the jury.

In addition, Bell was convicted in 2015 of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.

Judge Smith sentenced Bell to:

Ct.l- Aggravated Assault — 20 years

Ct.2- Rape — Life Sentence

Ct.3- Kidnapping — Life Sentence

A recidivist notice was filed by the State; meaning, that Bell will not be eligible for Parole.

Assistant District Attorney Anthony Pickett and District Attorney George R. Christian represented the State of Georgia.