CLEARFIELD – District Attorney Ryan P. Sayers has announced that F Cortez “Chip” Bell III was officially sworn in as the first assistant district attorney of Clearfield County by Judges Frederic J. Ammerman and Paul E. Cherry on Tuesday, April 30.
As the first assistant district attorney, Bell will be the second-in-command to Sayers, and will act as the district attorney in his absence.
A Clearfield County native, Bell graduated from Clearfield Area High School in 1970. Following high school, he attained his Bachelor’s degrees in economics and political science from Gettysburg College, his Master’s degree in economics from American University in Washington D.C., and his Juris Doctorate from Pepperdine University in California.
Over his 40-plus years as an attorney, Bell has dedicated his mind, time and talents to that of public service in Clearfield County.
Bell has been an assistant public defender, the chief public defender, an assistant district attorney, the first assistant district attorney, and for the past 14 years has served as the district court administrator.
During that storied career, Bell has tried over 150 criminal jury trials, which included 12 criminal homicide cases, and had the privilege to present oral argument before the U.S. Supreme Court in Patton v. Yount (1983).
“I am very pleased to have Attorney Bell as my first assistant and rejoining the District Attorney’s Office,” Sayers said. “There is no doubt that his years of experience, intelligence and dedication to the people of this county will be assets this office, especially with the complexity and ever-growing criminal caseload here in Clearfield County.”
“I look forward to working side-by-side with DA Sayers and I am honored to once again serve the people of this county as a prosecutor in the District Attorney’s Office,” said Bell.
