SPECIAL PRESS RELEASE FORT MADISON POLICE DEPARTMENT  

ARREST OF FELONY SEX OFFENDER

 

Wednesday, January 25, 2023  

The Fort Madison Police Department Detective Bureau announces the arrest of Nicholas Ray Bell,  age 35, of Burlington. This arrest stems from an ongoing investigation from 2021.  

Bell is alleged to have had an ongoing sexual relationship with a minor within the city limits of  Fort Madison between September and October 2021. The recent return of conclusive digital and  DNA forensic evidence from the Iowa DCI Criminalistics Laboratory allowed investigators the  opportunity to proceed with arresting Bell.  

On January 25th,2022 detectives of the Fort Madison Police Department, with assistance from  the US Department of Homeland Security Investigations, and the Burlington Police Department  arrested Bell at his residence without incident.  

Charges against Bell are as follows: three counts of Sexual Abuse in the 3rd degree (C felony),  three counts of enticing a minor (D felony), and a charge of prostitution (D felony). Additional  charges are pending. The public is reminded that charges are an allegation of a committed crime,  and defendants are presumed to be innocent until convicted in a court of law.  

The Fort Madison Police Department thanks the following agencies for their assistance with this  investigation: Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, United States Department of Homeland  Security Investigations, Cedar Rapids Police Department Criminal Investigations, Internet Crimes  Against Children Task Force, Burlington Police Department, Keokuk Police Department, And Iowa  Department of Health and Human Services.  

Mark Rohloff,  

Chief of Police