Last week 423rd District Judge Chris Duggan in Bastrop ruled that Haley Bellard can be tried as an adult for her alleged role in her mother’s death. On May 25 the state grand jury for Bastrop County returned an indictment against the teen, in effect sending the case to trial . An indictment indicates that grand jurors decided there is enough evidence to warrant a trial. The action also serves as formal notice of a felony charge against a defendant. An indictment is not evidence of guilt in any case.

Since Duggan’s ruling earlier this month, Haley Bellard has been held in the Bastrop County Jail under $100,000 bail. Previously she had been held in a juvenile facility in Seguin.

Also charged in the death of Tracy Bellard is 18-year-old Joseph Douglas. He is in the Bastrop County Jail under $750,000 bail. Criminal investigators believe Tracy Bellard was shot to death in her McDade home last Aug. 14 after she tried to break up a romantic relationshiip between her daughter and Douglas.

Prosecutors said it could be another year before the case comes to trial.

Hailey Bellard had been held in a juvenile detention facility since she and her 18-year-old boyfriend, Joseph Douglas, were questioned in August 2009 about the disappearance of Tracy Bellard, who worked at the family restaurant, Mimi G’s, on FM 1441 north of Bastrop. Douglas, also charged with murder, remains in jail under $500,000 bail.

District Attorney Bryan Goertz said he will seek a grand jury indictment against Hailey Bellard next week. Grand jury action is required to send any felony case to trial.

Criminal investigators believe Tracy Bellard was shot to death at her McDade home after she repeatedly tried to interfere with a romantic relationship between her daughter, 14 at the time, and Douglas.

Those younger than 17 are generally considered children under Texas law and their cases handled under a separate set of criminal and family laws. In exceptional cases, however, juveniles may be transferred for adjudication under adult criminal rules.

Tuesday’s murder indictment names Joseph Douglas as responsible for the shooting death of Tracy Bellard, 42, “on or about Aug. 17″ this year. The grand jury action puts the defendant on formal notice of the charge he will face in court.
Douglas is being held in the Bastrop County Jail, apparently unable to post bail, pending trial. The victim’s daughter, identified in court records as Haley Bellard, is being held in a juvenile detention facility in Seguin.

Tracy Bellard was reported missing Aug. 14 after she failed to appear for work at her family’s restaurant, Mimi G’s, on FM 1441 that day. Douglas and the daughter were questioned Aug. 17 after Tracy Bellard’s auto was spotted at the residence where Douglas lived near Smithville.

Subsequently both the juvenile and another witness told investigators from the Bastrop County Sheriff’s Department that they had seen Douglas gun down Tracy Bellard at her McDade home with a 22-calibre rifle, according to court records.