Sportsnet.ca -- Newly acquired Toronto Maple Leaf Mark Bell is headed to jail, Sportsnet has learned.

Bell pleaded guilty in a San Jose courtroom Tuesday to charges of drunk driving causing injury and hit and run.

The Leaf forward, picked up in the Vesa Toskala trade with San Jose in June, will be sentenced to six months in a Santa Clara ,California county jail to be served at the end of this upcoming season.

Official sentencing will be in October.

The charges stem from an incident in San Jose on Labour Day last year when Bell's vehicle rear-ended a pickup truck in the early morning hours, leaving the driver of the truck with head injuries.

Bell fled the scene only to be found a short distance away by San Jose police.

Leafs' GM John Ferguson had little to say when reached by Sportsnet.

"I will reserve comment until I can more fully review the situation," he said.

Bell started his NHL career in Chicago in 2000 after a successful junior career in Ottawa. He was subsequently dealt to the Sharks last summer and then became part of the Leafs organization after John Ferguson made the trade to acquire Toskala at this year's NHL draft.

Bell has two years remaining on a three-year $6.5 million dollar contract.

I knew trading for him was a bad idea.