A Yates County man is facing a felony drug charge following a months-long investigation that began in September.
On December 4, 2025, investigators arrested James R. Bell at the Yates County Jail. He was charged with one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class B felony.
According to the Yates County Sheriff’s Office, the arrest followed lab testing that confirmed the presence of a controlled substance seized earlier in the investigation.
Bell is scheduled to appear in Middlesex Town Court at a later date. No other agencies were involved in the case.
The investigation was led by Investigator Rayburn. The press release was distributed by First Sergeant Jeffrey Rider.
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