Thrice convicted Waco gang member sentenced to 100 years in prison following latest drug-dealing convictions

WACO, Texas (KWTX) - A Waco gang member on parole who was sentenced to 30 years in prison three weeks ago for a downtown Waco shooting in which two people were injured was sentenced to 100 years in prison Wednesday after his conviction on three counts of drug dealing.

Jurors in Waco’s 19th State District Court recommended that Judge Thomas West sentence Derwin Dewayne Bell, 25, to 70, 60 and 70 years, respectively, after finding him guilty of possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine.

After the jury returned its verdicts, West “stacked” the 70-year term from Count 1 onto the 30-year term from his trial earlier this month, ordering Bell to serve the two sentences consecutively for a total of 100 years.

Bell, who is on parole after a 2018 conviction for possession of cocaine with intent to deliver, will serve the other two sentences concurrently and must earn credit for serving at least 45 years before he can seek parole.

Prosecutors Rebeckah Lawson and Christi Hunting Horse released a joint statement after the three-day trial. They said they hope the verdict sends a message to the parole board not to release Bell again, given that he was on parole when he committed his most recent crimes.

“We asked this jury to send a message, not only to Derwin Bell, but to all in our community who would engage in gang activity,” the prosecutors said. “We will use every tool the law provides to remove gangs and their conduct from the lives of McLennan County’s residents.”

Bell’s attorney, Russ Hunt, said Bell will appeal his convictions.

“We went to trial with Mr. Bell, and unfortunately, the jury didn’t agree with our position, and consequently, convicted him,” Hunt said.

Waco police arrested Bell on the drug charges June 9, 2021, while coming to arrest him for firing shots that injured two people after an altercation after a basketball game outside a downtown recreation center two days earlier.

The jury sentenced Bell to 30 years in prison on one aggravated assault charge, while deadlocking on the second aggravated assault count.

Waco police spotted Bell coming out of what investigators know to be a drug “stash house” in North Waco and arrested him getting into a car with a backpack and $1,700 in his pocket.

Officers served a search warrant at the stash house and found a variety of drugs, $6,200 in cash and three pistols and an AR-15-style rifle inside the house, according to trial testimony.

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