Kyle Bell - Repeat Sex Offender Wants out of Prison

"25% of all sex offenders re-offend within 15 years"

.........Sarah Tofte

Fargo man convicted of killing an 11-year old girl wants out of federal prison.

Kyle Bell was convicted almost 10 years ago of killing Jeanna North, who disappeared in 1993.

Her body has never been found.

Bell says his rights are being violated because he`s a state prisoner being held in a federal prison. Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem says the request should be rejected for a number of reasons, including that it has no merit.

Kyle Bell`s case has impacted people throughout the state.

Bell was a convicted repeat sex offender before killing Jeanna North, but no one knew he was living in her neighborhood.

After he was convicted for her murder, he escaped from a prisoner transport bus in 1999.

Bell spent three months on the run until caught after his case was featured on "America`s Most Wanted."

Jeanna`s family says they hope he stays locked up for the rest of his life.

Bell`s case has prompted changes in sex offender notification laws.

Now, sex offenders and offenders against children are required to register with their local police department.

"Kyle had a lot to do with North Dakota registration and making it stricter and allowing police to know where people are at, where they`re working, where they`re living, the whole gamut of things there," says Lt. Bob Haas, of the Bismarck Police Department. "I think it`s helped quite a bit."

Bell has tried to appeal his conviction in the past.

He`s been unsuccessful so far.

13% of all new sex crimes is committed by someone
who is already on the sex offender registry
..........Sarah Tofte, Human Rights Watch