A former Aledo man serving 20 years in prison for his role in a sex assault case is seeking executive clemency. In his petition, 29 year old Ryan Bell claims he is a changed person and that his mental capacity at the age of 18 could not grasp the severity of his actions. Mercer County State’s Attorney Meeghan Lee opposes the move. Bell pled guilty to a Class 1 felony of criminal sexual assault in October 2006 and received the 20-year sentence the following May. The charge stemmed from a May of 2006 incident involving a 15-year-old girl at an underage drinking party in Aledo. Court testimony indicated the victim may have been drugged. Four juveniles were also charged in the case with aggravated battery and attempted criminal sexual assault. Three were placed on probation and one was sentenced to 90 days at a juvenile detention facility. Bell is currently incarcerated at the Graham Correctional Center and goes before the Illinois Prisoner Review Board next month. He has been denied in previous post-conviction relief attempts and appeals.
