Rahmel Belle, 29, of Jersey City, was ordered to pay $125 in fees as his sentence on a disorderly conduct charge
Rahmel BelleNEWARK — A Hudson County man pleaded guilty this month to a disorderly conduct charge in connection with an altercation with three Essex County sheriff's officers in May after an outburst during the sentencing of the man who killed his brother.
Rahmel Belle, 29, of Jersey City, entered the plea to the disorderly persons offense on Oct. 9 before Superior Court Judge Bahir Kamil. As his sentence, the judge then ordered Belle to pay $125 in fees without any jail time.
"Wish you the best, young man," Kamil told Belle, according to an audio recording of the proceeding.
Belle had been indicted on June 30 on three counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and one count of resisting arrest.
Under a plea deal with prosecutors, the aggravated assault charges were dismissed and the resisting arrest charge was downgraded to the disorderly conduct charge. Prosecutors agreed to recommend a sentence of fines and fees.
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The incident occurred on May 5 while Belle was attending the sentencing of George Jones, 42, of Newark, who fatally shot Michael Belle on July 27, 2013 on Elizabeth Avenue in Newark.
Jones received 10 years in state prison after having pleaded guilty to a reckless manslaughter charge and a weapons offense. The killing occurred a few years after Jones was released from prison in connection with the fatal shooting of another man in 1994.
While his mother, Jacqueline Belle, was speaking during the sentencing hearing, Rahmel Belle stood up and approached the front of the Newark courtroom. Belle cursed at Jones and called him a "coward."
"You took my brother for nothing," Belle shouted at Jones. "You'll never make it outside."
After a sheriff's officer escorted Belle to the outer hallway, authorities said Belle rushed into the three officers in an attempt to get back inside the courtroom. Two of the officers sustained minor injuries, authorities said. One officer was struck in the head and the other was hit on the hand, authorities said.
With the assistance of his attorney, Michael Maher, Belle admitted when he pleaded guilty on Oct 9 to getting "emotional" during Jones's sentencing hearing, according to the audio recording.
Belle said he was escorted out of the courtroom and was then asked not to return. While a sheriff's officer tried to keep him outside, Belle said he physically tried to get back into the courtroom. Belle said he engaged in "tumultuous behavior."
Belle was arrested on the day of the incident and released on his own recognizance on June 2.
On Sept. 9, Belle was arrested in Jersey City on a robbery charge and a weapons offense, court records show. He remains in custody at the Hudson County jail in lieu of $50,000 bail, records show.
Bill Wichert may be reached at bwichert@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BillWichertNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
