Hamilton Clinton Bell, 63, of Sallisaw was accused in the 2002 molestation of two young girls and was charged with a variety of sex crimes. The victims in the case, who were 7 and 8 years old at the time of the alleged incidents, described various incidents in which Bell allegedly molested them.
According to court records filed June 15, Bell entered a plea of no contest to five counts, including two counts of lewd molestation, two lewd proposals to a child charges, and one count of first-degree rape. He received a 25-year prison term for the rape charge, and was sentenced to 20 years for the other crimes, all to be suspended. As part of his probation, Bell must complete a special sex offender treatment program, register as a sex offender, and abide by various other supervision rules. He must also pay various court costs.
In a separate case, a 72-year-old Vian man, Roger P. Wenman, charged in October with the lewd molestation of a 10-year-old girl was sentenced on June 14 to an eight-year prison term, to be suspended.
According to the rules of Wenman's probation, he must register as a sex offender, pay various court costs and restitution, and complete a sex offender treatment program.
The charges against Wenman stemmed from an alleged incident in July involving a now 11-year-old girl.
In the early morning hours of July 14, the girl's mother told Sequoyah County Sheriff's deputies that she and her husband, along with other family members, had been camping on Lake Tenkiller at the time of the incident. The girl's mother told deputies that she and her husband returned home earlier in the week, but her daughter and parents remained camping. Prior to leaving, the girl's mother gave her daughter permission to stay the night with a friend at Wenman's home, where the incident allegedly occurred.
On the night of July 14 the girl's mother received a call from her 10-year-old daughter, who said that she wanted her to immediately come and get her.
The girl later described to a family member and authorities that Wenman touched her inappropriately during the night.
