ASHEVILLE - The Black Mountain man accused of assaulting three girls at the Asheville Mall in January has been convicted of two misdemeanors.

Police said David Steven Bell, 51, pushed and punched an 11-year-old girl in the face, knocking her to the ground. An incident report describes Bell as 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds.

Bell pleaded guilty of misdemeanor assault on a child under the age of 12, as well as one misdemeanor count of assault on a female for pushing a 13-year-old girl during the incident, according to the Buncombe County Clerk's office. A second misdemeanor charge for pushing another 13-year-old girl was dismissed due to difficulties contacting the victim, according to District Attorney Todd Williams.

"Bell was sentenced to one 60 day suspended sentence and was placed on unsupervised probation for a period of 12 months," Williams wrote to the Citizen Times.

Bell is required to participate in a racial justice workshop within 90 days and complete anger management counseling, as well as paying a court fee of less than $200, the clerk said.

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Video from the mall went viral

Video footage of the incident, which circulated widely on social media, drew ire due to the size and age difference between Bell and the children. Other internet spectators contend Bell was responding to a threat after having been pushed himself, also shown in the video.

Soon after the incident, Asheville attorney Andy Banzhoff issued a statement saying his client Bell was trying to help a woman who was being harassed by "a large pack of youths" at the mall. Banzhoff did not say in what manner the woman was being harassed.

Banzhoff added that Bell is undergoing long-term treatment for a traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder. Bell felt threatened and regretted using physical force, he said.