Judge sentences Brandon Julius Bell to 12 years after finding multiple probation violations true

The 252nd District Court found Brandon Julius Bell guilty on additional revocation counts and imposed a 12‑year sentence in state prison after reviewing probation reports, medical records and testimony from the supervising probation officer.

Probation officer Rachel Lopez testified that Bell failed to keep contact information updated, admitted to adulterating a urine specimen and had multiple incident reports documenting behaviors that probation and law enforcement attributed to synthetic‑marijuana (K2) use. Defense counsel highlighted Bell’s recent amputation and medical records and argued that treatment and probation could be appropriate. The court considered the competing evidence and the history of prior juvenile and adult supervision failures.

The judge said the record reflected a history of assaultive behavior and a risk to the defendant’s children and the community. "I'm going to find sufficient evidence to find you guilty, and at this time, find you guilty of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon," the judge said before imposing a 12‑year sentence and an affirmative deadly‑weapon finding. The judge also handed Bell the trial‑court certification noting this disposition was not a plea agreement and that appellate rights remain.

The court referred to treatment programming (Spindletop/special‑needs track) as potentially relevant but concluded that the severity and pattern of offenses and the probation‑recorded incidents required incarceration. The clerk will prepare judgment and commitment paperwork and forward the certification and sentence to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

The defendant was admonished about ineligibility to possess firearms or ammunition under Texas law as a consequence of the conviction.