Penn State's Chris Bell gets 4 years probation for knife incident

Former Granby High School wide receiver Chris Bell will spend four years on probation for bringing a knife into a Penn State dining hall last April.

Bell, removed from the Penn State team a day after threatening Nittany Lion teammate Devon Still, has since enrolled at Norfolk State. He practiced this fall and will be eligible to play for the Spartans next season.

Bell’s sentencing hearing, held Thursday, had been delayed numerous times. Centre County Judge Bradley P. Lunsford rejected a plea offer in August after Bell pleaded guilty to a terroristic threats charge. That agreement had called for Bell to be sentenced to two years probation, but the judge asked attorneys from both sides to explore the matter further.

Lunsford’s concern was that because Bell had a knife, a deadly weapons enhancement should apply to his sentencing. Both sides went to court in October, but sentencing was postponed again.

The final agreement had Bell withdraw the terroristic threats plea and instead plead guilty to simple assault and possessing an instrument of a crime. In addition to the probation, Bell must undergo five days of community service and attend an anger-management class. He is barred from future contact with Still.

Reached by phone today, Bell had no comment about the court proceedings. The redshirt wide receiver, who will have two years of eligibility remaining, said he is happy at NSU.

“My grades are good,” he said. “They’re better than they’ve ever been.”

Bell, a four-time state champion in the 110-meter hurdles at Granby, is considering joining the NSU track team this spring. At Penn State, Bell played in 12 games and caught seven passes for 143 yards.