Plea entered to lesser charge in rape case

After nearly four years since charges were filed, a plea agreement has been reached in criminal felony charges against Caleb Scott Baker, 25, of Alva. Baker was 21 when charges were filed on March 9, 2016, in Woods County. At that time he was charged with rape first degree, lewd or indecent proposals to a child under 16 (two counts) and forcible sodomy (two counts).

After numerous court hearings, postponements and delays, a hearing was held Feb. 26. The earlier charges were dismissed, and Baker entered a plea of nolo contendere to one count of aggravated assault and battery, a felony. Nolo contendere is a plea by which a defendant in a criminal prosecution accepts conviction as though a guilty plea had been entered but does not admit guilt.

According to information filed in the case, on or about the 28th day of November, 2013, Baker, being a person of robust health, committed an aggravated assault and battery upon the victim who was seven years younger than the defendant, did thereby inflict bodily injury upon the body of the victim with the unlawful intent to do him corporal hurt and great bodily injury.

Felony aggravated assault and battery is punishable by up to five years in the penitentiary or up to one year in the county jail or by up to $500 fine, or both.

 

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