Adrian Dominique Bell, 35, an inmate at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Stillwater, will spend an additional decade in prison after stabbing and injuring a correctional sergeant in 2020, Washington County Attorney Kevin Magnuson announced on Nov. 13.

According to the Washington County press release, Bell, was sentenced Monday to 120 months in prison on charges of first-degree assault after he stabbed a correctional sergeant with a 5 ½” metal shank during an altercation. According to the criminal complaint, Bell and another inmate became confrontational with correctional staff over loss of privileges on June 12, 2020. During the argument, the other inmate lunged at a correctional sergeant and punched him in the head. Additional correctional staff immediately responded and attempted to restrain the inmate. As the physical struggle continued, Bell removed a shank from his pocket, ran up to the group, and stabbed a correctional sergeant in the lower torso. The shank, described as being made from a piece of rigid, thin metal with a sharp tip and handle made from black fabric, fell from Bell’s hand and both men were able to be detained.

The sergeant and two additional correctional staff injured in the altercation were transported to Lakeview Hospital for medical treatment. All three were treated for visible injuries, including the puncture wound to the sergeant’s lower torso.

"Inmate assaults on correctional officers are grave offenses that undermine the safety of our prison system and will not be taken lightly," said Washington County Attorney Kevin Magnuson. "We are grateful to the Minnesota Department of Corrections and the department's Office of Special Investigations for their dedicated efforts in bringing this case forward. Together, we remain resolute in our pursuit of justice for any acts of violence committed against our dedicated correctional staff."

At the time of the assault, Bell was serving a 161-month sentence at MCF-Stillwater for attempted first degree murder. Following his scheduled release from the Minnesota Department of Corrections in 2021, Bell’s custody was transferred to the Washington County Jail for the duration of the trial. He remains in custody at the Washington County Jail while he awaits transfer to the Minnesota Department of Corrections to serve his new sentence.

Assistant Washington County Attorney Justin Collins prosecuted the case.

In 2020, Bell was charged with first-degree felony assault – use of deadly force against peace officer/prosecutor/judge or correction employee, second-degree felony assault with a dangerous weapon, and two counts of fourth-degree felony assault of correctional employee, probation officer, prosecutor or judge.