A man who tried to strike a law enforcement officer with a bat has been convicted of four felonies and sentenced to prison. According to the Jefferson County Attorney’s Office, on Monday 76-year-old Larry Allen Bell of Fairfield was sentenced after being convicted at trial of four Class D felonies including: going armed with intent, interference with official acts, willful injury resulting in bodily injury, and assault on persons in certain occupations with a dangerous weapon. The judge sentenced Bell to a total of 15 years of incarceration.

A Fairfield Police Officer was taking a different individual into custody on an arrest warrant for an unrelated criminal offense when Bell approached the officer from behind. At the trial evidence was presented indicating that Bell attempted to strike a police officer in the neck with a wooden baseball bat. The blow was deflected by the officer’s ballistic vest but bounced up and hit him in the head, causing injury. The officer was able to take Bell into custody after deploying a taser.

During the altercation, the individual who was originally being arrested fled the scene. She was later apprehended and is currently in an Iowa Department of Corrections prison facility.

At the sentencing on February 17th, Bell offered an apology to the officer. Jefferson County Attorney Chauncey Moulding argued that due to the violent actions of Bell, each count should run consecutively for a total of 20 years. The judge noted significant past criminal history and lack of respect for the rule of law and sentenced Bell to a total of 15 years.