RIVERSIDE - A Corona police officer who did not disclose allegations that a 13-year-old boy was possibly being abused by the pastor and other members of her church was convicted today of failing to report suspected child abuse or neglect.

A six-man, six-woman jury in Riverside took less than a day to reach a verdict on the misdemeanor charge against Cpl. Margaret Bell, a 23-year law enforcement veteran.

The 44-year-old defendant could face six months probation and fines when she's sentenced on April 12 by Riverside Superior Court Judge Bernard Schwartz.

Bell, who remains on paid administrative leave from the police department, showed no reaction as the verdict was read and declined to comment when she left the courthouse a few minutes later with a small group of family and friends.

City News Service's inquiries regarding Bell's future status as a peace officer were not immediately answered by Corona police officials.

The case against her stemmed from the March 2012 arrests of three men affiliated with Heart of Worship Church in Corona. The defendants - Lonny Lee Remmers, 54, Nicholas James Craig, 22, Darryll Duane Jeter, 28 - are facing a slew of felony charges for allegedly threatening and physically assaulting a 13-year-old boy.

The youth, Jacob, was turned over to the men by his mother, also a member of the church, to be disciplined for sexually abusing his younger sister, according to prosecutors.

Bell testified Wednesday that on March 26, 2012 -- three days before Remmers and his co-defendants were arrested and charged in the case -- an eccentric parishioner, Steve Larkey, approached her during an evening service and alleged that Remmers, the pastor, had "poked" Jacob's chest with a pair of pliers.

According to Bell, she asked Larkey whether he had seen the incident, and he replied he hadn't.

"He was all over the map, complaining about everything and anything," Bell testified. "He was just rambling. Nothing was more important than the other. He didn't say, 'I want to report this. I need your help."'

Bell told Larkey to go speak with Remmers about his concerns, and the witness said he would. According to the defendant, she did not feel the encounter warranted immediate action and decided she would speak privately with the boy when she saw him at church later in the week.

Deputy District Attorney Will Robinson asked Bell why she didn't feel it was justified to speak with Jacob right away.

"Because I know the church members' history ... and if it was that serious, Steve would not have agreed to go back and talk to the pastor," the defendant said. "I did not know the context of what Steve was talking about. Anything can be considered abuse."

Robinson presented mobile phone records indicating Bell either called or traded text messages with Remmers about 100 times between March 26 and March 29, 2012. However, the officer denied ever broaching the subject of Larkey's

allegations and insisted that Remmers never disclosed anything potentially criminal to her.

Remmers, Craig and Jeter are awaiting trial on charges that include kidnapping, making criminal threats and inflicting corporal injury on a minor.

The men allegedly strapped Jacob to a chair in the bathroom of Remmers' home and pepper-sprayed him, and Remmers alone is accused of pinching the boy's chest with pliers to punish him.

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Jury weighs fate of cop accused of failing to report abuse

RIVERSIDE - Jury deliberations got under way today in the trial of a Corona police officer accused of neglecting to report allegations of child abuse by the pastor and other members of her church.

Cpl. Margaret Bell, 44, could face six months probation and fines if convicted of a misdemeanor count of failing to report evidence of child endangerment.

The case stems from the March 2012 arrests of three men affiliated with Heart of Worship Church in Corona. The defendants -- Lonny Lee Remmers, 54, Nicholas James Craig, 22, Darryll Duane Jeter, 28 -- are facing a slew of felony charges for allegedly threatening and physically assaulting a 13-year- old boy.

The youth, Jacob, was turned over to the men by his mother, also a member of the church, to be disciplined for sexually abusing his younger sister, according to prosecutors.

Following closing statements by the prosecution and defense, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Bernard Schwartz sent jurors behind closed doors to begin reviewing evidence in the case. Deliberations are slated to resume at 9:30 a.m. Friday.

Bell, who is free on $2,500 bail, testified Wednesday that on March 26, 2012 -- three days before Remmers and his co-defendants were arrested and charged in the case -- an eccentric parishioner, Steve Larkey, had approached her during an evening service and told her that Remmers, the pastor, had "poked" Jacob's chest with a pair of pliers.

According to Bell, she asked Larkey whether he had seen the incident, and he replied he hadn't.

"He was all over the map, complaining about everything and anything," Bell testified. "He was just rambling. Nothing was more important than the other. He didn't say, 'I want to report this. I need your help."'

The 23-year law enforcement veteran told Larkey to go speak with Remmers about his concerns, and the witness said he would. According to the defendant, she did not feel the encounter warranted immediate action and decided she would speak privately with the boy when she saw him at church later in the week.

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[ The Tutoring Center ] District Attorney Will Robinson asked Bell why she didn't feel it was justified to speak with Jacob right away.

"Because I know the church members' history ... and if it was that serious, Steve would not have agreed to go back and talk to the pastor," the defendant said. "I did not know the context of what Steve was talking about. Anything can be considered abuse."

Bell said she did not have "reasonable suspicion" to believe a crime had been committed.

Robinson presented mobile phone records indicating Bell either called or traded text messages with Remmers about 100 times between March 26 and March 29, 2012. However, the officer denied ever broaching the subject of Larkey's allegations and insisted that Remmers never disclosed anything potentially criminal to her.

Bell remains on paid administrative leave from the police department.

Remmers, Craig and Jeter are awaiting trial on charges that include kidnapping, making criminal threats and inflicting corporal injury on a minor.

The men allegedly strapped Jacob to a chair in the bathroom of Remmers' home and pepper-sprayed him, according to testimony from a preliminary hearing in September.

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

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Police officer admits not investigating abuse allegations

RIVERSIDE - A Corona police officer accused of neglecting to report allegations of child abuse by the pastor and other members of her church acknowledged today that she did not take the report seriously.

Cpl. Margaret Bell, 44, could face jail time and fines if convicted of a misdemeanor count of failing to report evidence of child endangerment. The case stems from the March 2012 arrests of three men affiliated with Heart of Worship Church in Corona. The defendants -- Lonny Lee Remmers, 54, Nicholas James Craig, 22, Darryll Duane Jeter, 28 -- are facing a slew of felony charges for allegedly threatening and physically assaulting a 13-year- old boy. The youth was turned over to the men by his mother, also a member of the church, to be disciplined for sexually abusing his younger sister, according to prosecutors.

Bell testified that on March 26, 2012 -- three days before Remmers and his co-defendants were arrested and charged in the case -- an eccentric parishioner, Steve Larkey, had approached her during an evening service and told her that Remmers, the pastor, had "poked" the 13-year-old's chest with a pair of pliers. According to Bell, she asked Steve whether he had seen the incident, and he replied he hadn't. "He was all over the map, complaining about everything and anything," Bell testified during cross-examination by Riverside County Deputy District Attorney Will Robinson. "He was just rambling. Nothing was more important than the other. He didn't say, 'I want to report this. I need your help."'

The police officer said she told Larkey to go speak with Remmers about his concerns, and the witness said he would. According to the defendant, she did not feel the encounter warranted immediate action and decided she would speak privately with the boy, Jacob, when she saw him at church later in the week. "So something Steve Larkey said resonated with you enough that you decided to speak to Jacob?" Robinson asked. "Yes, somewhat," Bell said. "Why wait three days to talk to him?" the prosecutor asked. "Because I know the church members' history ... and if it was that serious, Steve would not have agreed to go back and talk to the pastor," Bell said. "I did not know the context of what Steve was talking about. Anything can be considered abuse."

At one point, Bell said she did not have "reasonable suspicion" to believe a crime had been committed. "But what Steve Larkey said deserved follow-up?" Robinson asked. "Yes," Bell answered. "Yet you did not talk to the pastor or the child about this in the ensuing three days?" the prosecutor asked. "No, based on the information and the context of the conversation with Steve Larkey," Bell said.

"That's protecting Jacob?" Robinson asked. "Yes," Bell answered. The prosecutor presented mobile phone records indicating Bell either called or traded text messages with Remmers about 100 times between March 26 and March 29, 2012. The defendant denied ever broaching the subject of Larkey's allegations and insisted that Remmers never disclosed anything potentially criminal to her.

"If anyone commits a crime in front of me, I will arrest them. That's the kind of person I am," Bell testified. The 23-year law enforcement veteran remains on paid administrative leave from the police department. She was charged last July following an investigation by the District Attorney's Office. Remmers, Craig and Jeter are awaiting trial on charges that include kidnapping, making criminal threats and inflicting corporal injury on a minor.

To correct the boy's behavior, the defendants allegedly made him dig a ditch and threatened that it would be his 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 in September.

Remmers alone is accused of pinching the boy's chest with pliers to punish him. Closing arguments in Bell's trial are scheduled tomorrow.