Crime & Safety
Hopkins Man Gets Life In Prison After Hot Curling Iron Assault
The Hopkins man pleaded guilty to criminal sexual conduct, assault, and promoting prostitution.
HENNEPIN COUNTY, MN — A Hopkins man received life in prison after admitting to the attack and sexual assault of a woman on Sept. 9, 2019 with a hot curling iron. DeQuarn Bell, 25, pleaded guilty Wednesday to all three of the charges he was indicted on by a Hennepin County Grand Jury in January; first-degree criminal sexual conduct, first-degree assault and one count of promoting prostitution.
Bell may be given the possibility of parole after 30 years, depending on what happens at his formal sentencing that is set for Dec 4.
According to the criminal complaint, on Sept. 9, 2019, Hopkins police responded to a report of a domestic assault involving Bell and the victim that occurred in late July. The woman told police that Bell repeatedly physically and sexually assaulted her with a hot curling iron on her face and other parts of her body.
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She also said Bell prevented her from leaving the apartment by taking her phone and keys. The woman escaped on foot to a gas station on Sept. 9, where she called police, the criminal complaint states.
In court Wednesday, Bell admitted that the entirety of the victim’s testimony was true.
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