From Prison to Parenthood

Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader

Greg Bell backs his 1978 El Camino into his garage after getting home from a movie with his aunt Friday, April 14, 2017, at his apartment in Sioux Falls. Bell got out of prison last year after an 11-year prison sentence. Bell is working on getting his life together, and getting to know his 12-year-old daughter. “Prison was a horrible experience for me. I was traumatized by it, but I made a choice that got me in there,” Bell said. “Sometimes people ask me if 11 years was too long for the crime I did. And I say, maybe it took 11 years for me to learn.”

Phauness Bell, 12, sits with her 7-month-old little brother Quincy Ames Friday, May 12, 2017, at Lacey Park in Sioux Falls. Phauness' dad, Greg Bell got out of federal prison last year, and has been trying to get to know her. "I know it'll take time," Bell says. “She’s still a little shell-shocked,” Bell said. “Here’s this man she never knew coming into her life saying he’s her father. There’s nothing like that connection for a father to be with her through every stage and be an important thing in her life. I wasn’t there.”

Greg Bell, 48, lights a cigar after starting his grill to cook some hot dogs and chicken Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017, at his apartment in Sioux Falls. Bell said he used to smoke cigarettes, but quit when he went to prison. Now he smokes cigars as a way to relax.

Greg Bell, 48, laughs after Tyler McClaflin, with Cellular Only, figured out why his music wasn't showing up on his new phone during his fifth trip to the store in one week Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017, in Sioux Falls. Bell said he's on a first-name basis with the employees at Verizon. "He walks into Verizon like Norm walks into an episode of 'Cheers,'" said Bell's aunt Deniece Terry.

Greg Bell, 48, shows his aunt Deniece Terry something on his mobile phone while visiting Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017, at his apartment in Sioux Falls.

Greg Bell gives his daughter Phauness, 12, a hug as she gets ready to leave his apartment Friday, April 14, 2017, in Sioux Falls. "I know" she said after Bell told her he loved her.

Greg Bell, 48, visits with his upstairs neighbor after starting his grill to cook some hot dogs and chicken Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017, at his apartment in Sioux Falls.

Greg Bell looks at a photograph of his mom, who died earlier this year, while working on a painting in her memory Saturday, April 15, 2017, at his apartment in Sioux Falls. “She was the strongest person I know,” Bell says of his mother. Bell started drawing a portrait of his mother for the painting, but said he had a hard time focusing on it. Bell decided to paint something else in his mom's memory.

Phauness Bell, 12, left, holds her 7-month-old brother Quincy Ames while playing with her sisters, from left, Janaya Ames, 10, Samyra Ames, also 10, and Kyra Fisher, 8, Friday, May 12, 2017, at Lacey Park in Sioux Falls.

Greg Bell smiles while talking to his nephew, who's in prison, over the phone Saturday, April 15, 2017, at his apartment in Sioux Falls. Bell was working on a painting in memory of his mom.

Greg Bell, 48, a material handler at Adams Thermal Systems, walks to a storage area where spends most of his time Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017, at Adams Thermal Systems in Canton, S.D. Bell lost his job at Adams Thermal Systems after a disagreement with another employee but was able to find another job. Bell found out about losing his job while driving back to South Dakota from his mom's funeral in Arkansas.