United States V. Bell

Co-Appellants, J.D. Bell and Charles Cotton, were convicted in separate jury trials of the crime of aggravated sexual abuse on an Indian Reservation, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §§ 1151, 1153(a), 2241(a) and 2246(2). Their appeals were consolidated by this Court. On appeal, Bell and Cotton raise one similar issue and several separate issues. We reject all of Bell's contentions on appeal and therefore affirm his conviction. We also reject most of Cotton's contentions, however, we hold that Cotton's Sixth Amendment Confrontation Clause right was violated but this error was harmless and therefore we affirm his conviction and sentence.