One of the six men accused of being involved with the stabbing and beating of a Hutchinson man last year is again facing a charge of attempted 1st degree murder.
Troy Bell had been bound over on that charge after a preliminary hearing in June of last year, but later Judge Tim Chambers found there was sufficient evidence against Bell to show premeditation. However, he did allow the state to present additional evidence at an additional preliminary hearing.
So the state presented an additional witness in the case against Bell. That being a convicted felon, Michael Pelsor. He was housed in the county jail with a co-defendant John Cantu where Cantu of learning that the mother of the LeShore brothers has been slapped, he told the brothers that if it were his his mother he wouldn’t let him get away with that, saying “I would kill the guy.” He then drove them to the home of where the victim, Jeffrey Payne lived.
The defense objected to the testimony of Pelsor calling it “hearsay,” but Judge Joe McCarville ruled that it was allowed during a preliminary hearing and decided to let a jury decide the intent of the defendants.
So, Bell will be arraigned on that charge next Tuesday. He’s also charged with aggravated battery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated burglary for the incident.
Others accused of being involved in the attack include John Cantu, Jordon and Joseph LeShore Sean Arevalo-Mendoza and Desmund Cantu.
Desmund Cantu has already been convicted and is serving 7-years, while Joseph LeShore was recently allowed to withdraw his plea to attempted 2nd degree murder and will now face trial on a charge of attempted 1st degree murder. The others cases are also pending.
The attack on Payne took place back on February 18, 2013, when these men allegedly broke into his home and physically attacked and stabbed him numerous times in the leg and torso.
Pelsor is jailed for failing to register as sex offender.