RIVERSIDE - Motions on evidence and witnesses were heard today in advance of the trial of a Corona police officer accused of failing to tell her superiors about allegations that a 13-year-old boy was being physically and mentally abused.

Cpl. Margaret Bell, 43, could face jail time and fines if convicted of a misdemeanor count of failing to report evidence of child endangerment.

Pretrial motions in the case were heard by Riverside County Superior Court Judge Bernard Schwartz, who scheduled jury selection to get under way Tuesday.

Bell, who remains on paid administrative leave, was charged in July following an investigation by the District Attorney's Office.

Prosecutors allege the 23-year law enforcement officer learned about a boy being abused by members of the Heart of Worship fellowship in Corona in March but did not report the information to investigators, as required of a peace officer.

The child, identified in court documents as Jacob, was allegedly subjected to repeated acts of abuse at the hands of three men -- Nicholas James Craig, 22, Darryll Duane Jeter, 28, and Lonny Lee Remmers, 54. All are members of the fellowship; Remmers is the pastor.

The defendants are awaiting trial on a variety of felony charges, including kidnapping, making criminal threats and inflicting corporal injury on a minor.

According to investigators, Jacob's mother sent him to live with the men after he twice sexually assaulted his 7-year-old sister.

To correct the boy's behavior, the defendants allegedly made him dig a ditch and told him it could end up being his own grave, and once strapped him to a chair in the bathroom of Remmers' home and pepper-sprayed him, according to testimony from a preliminary hearing last September.

Remmers alone is accused of pinching the boy's chest with pliers to punish him.

The men could each face more than 15 years in prison if Advertisement

[ Berry-Bell and Hall Mortuary ] convicted. They're all free on bail.

Corona cop accused of failing to report boy's abuse goes on trial

RIVERSIDE - Jury selection will get under way today at the trial of a Corona police officer accused of failing to tell her superiors about allegations that a 13-year-old boy was being physically and mentally abused.

Cpl. Margaret Bell, 43, could face jail time and fines if convicted of a misdemeanor count of failing to report evidence of child endangerment.

Bell, who remains on paid administrative leave, was charged in July following an investigation by the Riverside County District Attorney's Office.

According to prosecutors, the 23-year law enforcement officer learned about a boy being abused by members of the Heart of Worship fellowship in Corona in March but did not report the information to investigators, as required of a peace officer.

The child, identified in court documents as Jacob, was allegedly subjected to repeated acts of abuse at the hands of three men -- Nicholas James Craig, 22, Darryll Duane Jeter, 28, and Lonny Lee Remmers, 54. All are members of the fellowship; Remmers is the pastor.

The defendants are awaiting trial on a variety of felony charges, including kidnapping, making criminal threats and inflicting corporal injury on a minor.

According to investigators, Jacob's mother sent him to live with the men after he allegedly twice sexually assaulted his 7-year-old sister.

To correct the boy's behavior, the defendants allegedly made him dig a ditch and told him it could end up being his own grave, and once strapped him to a chair in the bathroom of Remmers' home and pepper-sprayed him, according to testimony from a preliminary hearing last September.

Remmers alone is accused of pinching the boy's chest with pliers to punish him.

The men could each face more than 15 years in prison if convicted. They're all free on bail.