Chatham County's "Most Wanted" Is Now Behind Bars

Chatham County's most wanted fugitive is now behind bars. 40-year-old Stephen Bell was taken into custody last night by the crew of Coast Guard Station Port Canaveral and deputies from the Brevard county sheriff's office. He was spotted drifting on a sail boat at Port Canaveral. 

Bell went missing after he cut off an ankle tracking bracelet he'd been ordered to wear as part of his probation. This is **not** the first time bell has violated probation.

He was in trouble after being sentenced a few years ago. A spokesperson for the Georgia Department of Corrections tells NEWS 3, Bell was sentenced to 15 years for two counts of molestation in march of 2004 -  but he got credit for time served and went right to probation.

Less than a month later, in April, a warrant was issued for his arrest because he'd already violated probation. He served 3 years and got out in may of 2007. About three weeks ago -  bell was given the tracking bracelet after a decision from the state sex registration board. 

He had been on the run for fifteen days..after cutting off that bracelet. It appears like bell has spent the bulk of that time on the water.

Authorities have been searching this area -- responding to tips since they learned the level three offender had ditched his monitor. But local police also notified the feds - and now - Stephen Bell could be back in our area within the next 48 hours.

“It'll feel a lot better once we know he's caught and I'm sure a lot of parents will feel a lot better too,” says Jason Henry - a worker at Chu's Market on Tybee Island. He had no idea a regular customer would become a wanted man. 

Sex offender Stephen Bell's ankle bracelet - found outside the store last Monday. 

“…About yay big... It had a clean cut,” says Henry. 

Now we know - by that time - bell was already on the run!  Police say he sailed out of town on a boat stolen here at Walsh's dock three days earlier. His flight to freedom -- ended after 15 days.

Florida Coast Guard and sheriff's deputies - spotted the sailboat early Wednesday morning.  On board the vessel "Showtime" - Stephen Bell. 

“He's in custody, but police are still trying to figure out why it took so long for them to find out his monitor was missing,” says Lt. Tommy Tillman, Chatham County Sheriff’s Department.

“We are going to sit down with the probation department and our sex offender unit, and see if there can be a more timely notification if something like this occurs in the future.”

Bell's probation - which runs through 2018 - may be yanked. He also faces new charges: theft of the boat through Tybee Island, and the state may pursue charges of damaging government property.

Bell didn't contest his extradition to Georgia this morning. He'll return here as soon as the stolen boat charges are settled in Florida. The probation officer responsible for monitoring Stephen Bell has been removed from all sex offender cases.