Guilty plea entered on lesser charges in Cedar Rapids murder

An 18-year-old charged in the murder of Kevin Bell, 26, last year pleaded guilty today to two lesser charges before jury selection started in his Linn County trial.

Denem Null, of Cedar Rapids, charged with first-degree murder, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and first-degree robbery. The murder charge carries a 50-year prison term and the robbery charge is 25 years. A sentencing date hasn't yet been set.

During the plea hearing, Null admitted to going with two other men and breaking into Bell's apartment Jan. 11 with the intent to rob him. Null admitted that he took a firearm and shot Bell during the robbery. Bell was shot in the head and died the next day.

Null's co-defendants, Gabriel Taylor, 18, and Johven Lee, 21, both of Cedar Rapids, originally charged with first-degree murder, pleaded guilty last week to first-degree robbery and agreed to testify against Null at the trial. Taylor and Lee each face 25 years in prison.

Taylor and Lee were expected to testify that Null had the gun and shot Bell.

Assistant Linn County Attorney Jason Burns said he will ask for consecutive terms at Null's sentencing.

“Based on all the evidence and considering the inherent risks of a trial, we felt this was in the best interest of the state,” Burns said.