| Steven | Bell |
| Type: | 3rd Striker | Sentence: | 35 years to life |
| For | taking bike out of garage |
| Type: | Date: | Strike(s): |
| Current | 02/15/1999 | Burglary 1st |
| Prior | 04/12/1984 | Residential burglary |
| Prior | 08/12/1989 | Residential burglary |
| Race ethnicity: | White |
| Physically disabled: | N/A |
| Mentally disabled: | N/A |
| History of suffering from substance abuse: | N/A |
| Marital status: | N/A |
| No. of Children: | 0 |
| Highest ed level: | Graduated apprentice program in college |
| Military service: | N/A |
| Employed at time of current conviction: | N/A |
| Paraphrased summary of comments made by prisoner and/or others: |
| Steven is currently convicted for taking a bike out of a garage. Steven's story was featured on 60 Minutes in May of 2000 (also |
| shown again in August of 2000). In the first burglary, Steven stole clothes and jewelry. In the second he stole a coat out of a |
| garage to avoid exposer to the cold weather after drinking on new year's eve. The prior convictions occurred in the state of |
| Nevada. Steve had been offered a 14 to 22 year deal in exchange not to go to trial but did not take the deal. |
| Quotes: |
| "I had not known until my current offense, that I California my prior strikes from out of the state, in Nevada, were strickable |
| offenses here in California Burglary. My understanding of the Cal 3 Strike law, was for violent repeat offenders only." |
| Prisoner believes he or she was wrongfully convicted: | N/A |
| Verification available/done on this story: |
| Letter from prisoner |
| Response letter sent |
| People available to contact about story: |
| Mother |
| Attorney--Trial |
| Attorney--Appellate |
| Girlfriend |