subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Sun, Jul 06 2008 

Published May 17, 2008 06:54 am - Penn State defensive tackle Chris Baker was sentenced to two years' probation Friday after entering guilty pleas in two cases involving two separate fights.


DA: PSU DT Baker gets 2 years probation after guilty pleas



BELLEFONTE (AP) _ Penn State defensive tackle Chris Baker was sentenced to two years' probation Friday after entering guilty pleas in two cases involving two separate fights.

Baker pleaded guilty Friday to simple assault and criminal trespass, both misdemeanors, in connection with a fight at an off-campus apartment in April 2007 in which authorities said two people were hurt, according to Centre County District Attorney Michael Madeira.

Baker, 21, of Windsor, Conn., also pleaded guilty Friday to misdemeanor simple assault for a fight at the campus student union last October, Madeira said. One man was hurt in that encounter.

Besides probation, Madeira said Baker must pay about $2,500 in restitution covering both cases. All other charges, including felony counts in both cases, were dismissed.

The trial for the off-campus fight case was scheduled to start in early June, but Madeira said the sides came to agreement Friday. in part because they were able to resolve both cases at once.

"The commonwealth is happy with the resolution, as are all the victims," Madeira said. "The reason for that is Mr. Baker has accepted responsibility. There is vindication for the victims who have been saying all along this is what Mr. Baker did, but have really been getting a hard time about it."

Baker's attorney, Tony DeBoef, did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

Baker had been suspended from the team. However, coach Joe Paterno recently allowed Baker to start working out again with the squad.

His potential return to the squad this fall would be a boost to a defensive line stocked with talent. Baker had 37 tackles and 4.5 sacks in 12 games last season.

He is the last of two players charged in the April 2007 fight to have their cases resolved. Safety Anthony Scirrotto was sentenced to one year of probation after accepting a plea deal in February to a reduced charge of misdemeanor defiant trespass.

Baker had been cleared by a university judicial affairs panel of wrongdoing in the October fight. Two other suspended Nittany Lions — linebacker Navorro Bowman and defensive tackle Phil Taylor — have been charged by police — for taking part in that fight and are awaiting trial.

Madeira said Baker's plea had no bearing on the cases of Bowman and Taylor.



print this story    email this story    comment on this story   

Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.





Free Coupons
Color Boomer Contest
Inside Pa Trivia Contest
monster
wheels
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide

Free Coupons Circulation Updates Photo Reprints Promises - weddings - engagements- anniversaries Photo Gallery Local Coupons Select TV Online Visit Inky on Myspace Subscribe now - Inside PA Pennsylvania Lottery

 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2008. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index

rc