This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A former Emery County sheriff's deputy who broke into the sheriff's office and stole prescription medications has taken a plea deal.
Clayton Rue Bell pleaded guilty last week in 7th District Court to a misdemeanor count of driving under the influence. The 29-year-old man also entered pleas in abeyance to six third-degree felony charges.
Bell was sentenced to 90 days in jail followed by 90 days of inpatient drug treatment in the DUI case. If Bell continues drug treatment and has no new violations over the next three years, the felony charges will be reduced to class A misdemeanors.
As part of the plea deal, six other felony counts and three misdemeanor charges against Bell were dismissed.
Emery County prosecutor W. Brent Langston said Bell stole prescription pills from "different locked areas of the sheriff's office on different occasions" over a span of 10 months last year.
Bell had prescription pills on him when he was booked into jail, Langston said. The former deputy was also accused of "doctor shopping."
According to Emery County sheriff's officials, Bell left his job with the sheriff's office on Oct. 1.