Cloverdale man sentenced in March bank robbery

Monday, November 16, 2015
Thomas A. Baker

The 43-year-old man accused of robbing Our Community Bank in Cloverdale on March 26 pleaded guilty Monday and was sentenced to 16 years in the Indiana Department of Correction.

Thomas A. Baker, Cloverdale, will execute 10 years of the sentence, followed by six years of probation.

The terms of a plea agreement outlined by Judge Denny Bridges explained Baker would plead guilty to armed robbery, a Level 3 felony. The additional charges of theft and intimidation, both Level 6 felonies, would be dropped.

Putnam County Prosecutor Timothy Bookwalter explained this is based on the new sentencing scheme. The sentencing for a Level 3 felony currently requires 2-16 years, with the offender serving 75 percent of the time.

Baker was given credit for 112 days already spent in jail, which only credits his time until July 15 when he began serving a Department of Correction (DOC) commitment for a case in Clay County in which Baker was charged with obtaining a controlled substance by fraud.

Per the request of Bookwalter, the sentences are to be served consecutively, meaning the Putnam County sentence will not begin until the completion of the Clay County case next December.

Baker admitted in Putnam Superior Court that he took U.S. currency from the bank in the afternoon hours of March 26 and inflicted fear on the tellers by appearing to have a handgun in his possession.

Baker was apprehended the evening of March 26, less than 7 hours after reportedly robbing the Our Community Bank in Cloverdale, located at 102 S. Main St. The bank tellers informed officers Baker had visited the bank several times in the past, so they were familiar with him when he entered the bank around 1:30 p.m. and insinuated he had a gun.

Baker fled from the Cloverdale bank with an undisclosed amount of cash, but public assistance quickly led police in the right direction. Deemed a person of interest at the time, it was believed Baker was headed to Muncie. An additional tip led police to Muncie Days Inn.

Once located, Baker again fled. This time he was being chased by an Indiana State Police trooper. After misjudging the turn at a T-intersection, Baker crashed his car into an embankment.

After being questioned by police, Baker admitted to taking off his seat belt before the crash in an attempt to kill himself.

Baker was transported to IU Health's Ball Memorial Hospital following the crash just before 8 p.m. on the same date. He was then housed at the Delaware County Jail and later brought to Putnam County Jail.

Bookwalter added the Clay and Putnam county courts are not the last Baker will be sitting in. He currently has charges pending in Hendricks County as well, including two counts of obtaining a legend drug by fraud, two counts of theft, criminal trespass and two counts of deception.

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: