Mall Store Employee Wanted On Sex Crime Charges Arrested: Trumbull PD

TRUMBULL, CT — A Trumbull Mall employee accused of stealing money from a store was found to be wanted on charges related to sex crimes against children in Colorado and arrested over the weekend, according to police.

In a news release, Police Lt. Brian Weir said officers were called to the JC Penney store at the mall Saturday around 3 p.m. after receiving a report of an employee stealing $250.

According to Weir, the employee, Joshua Jaheem Bell, 18, of Bridgeport, had previously stolen over $4,500 from the store.

Officers learned Bell had been stealing from his assigned cash register at the store since August and was caught in the act after money shortages from his register had been discovered, Weir said.

During their investigation, officers learned Bell was wanted by the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office in Colorado on charges of internet sex exposure of a child and sexual assault of a child, according to Weir. Bell also confirmed to police he had traveled to Colorado earlier this year.

Bell was charged with extradition arrest with no warrant for the Colorado charges, Weir said. He was held on a $1 million bond and was scheduled to appear in court Monday.

Bell was also charged with sixth-degree larceny and held on an additional $500 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court for that charge later this month, according to Weir.