Jena 6's Mychal Bell in Court

Mychal Bell and his parents appeared in juvenile court on October 2, 2007 for approximately four hours, to begin the process of his trial in juvenile court for charges stemming from the beating of a fellow Jena High School classmate. Because the case is being handled in juvenile court, the matter is sealed to the public.
Mychal Bell had previously been tried and convicted as an adult on charges of aggravated second degree battery and a conspiracy charge. This conviction was later vacated by the Louisiana Supreme Court, on September 14, 2007, with the court ruling,   

"The defendant was not tried on an offense which could have subjected him to the jurisdiction of the criminal court."
Thirteen days after the conviction of Mychal Bell was overturned, on September 27, Jena, Louisiana DA Reed Walters filed charges in juvenile court, resulting in $45,000 bail to be set by a judge for Mychal Bell, who had remained behind bars since December 2006.
Mychal Bell, along with five other former high school students, all of whom were expelled after the incident, is the first of the teens, known as the Jena 6, to be tried in connection with the beating of Justin Barker. Justin Barker was taken to a hospital and released a short time later, with him later attending a school function. All of the Jena 6 were initially charged with attempted murder, causing an outcry of unjust treatment by many within and outside of the community.
The events surrounding the case of the Jena 6 resulted in tens of thousands traveling to Jena, Louisiana for a march and rally on September 20 to show their concern and support for the teens charged in the incident.
Michael Baisden, radio talk show personality and one of the individuals responsible for helping to organize and get people to the march and rally for the Jena 6, reported on his talk show yesterday, after speaking with Rev. Al Sharpton, who attended the hearing on October 2, that Mychal Bell is under house arrest. He is not allowed to leave the house or have any visitors. His contact with others is restricted to his parents and his attorneys.
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