Appeal filed in Baker case

GREENCASTLE -- The attorney representing a Cloverdale man convicted in June of Class A felony child molesting has filed an appeal on his client's behalf.

James Recker filed the appeal in the case of Jeffrey L. Baker, 51, with the Putnam County Circuit Court.

On June 11, Judge Matthew Headley entered a judgment of conviction to a Class A felony count of child molesting and sentenced Baker to 40 years -- 30 at the Indiana Department of Corrections and 10 years on probation. Headley also ruled that Baker should be deemed a sexually violent predator, which means that upon his release from prison he will have to register on a database and be monitored via GPS for the rest of his life.

Baker was arrested on Dec. 5, and has been lodged at the Putnam County Jail since that time. He is listed on the Indiana Department of Corrections Web site as "central office admin inbound," which means he is awaiting transfer to a DOC facility.

Baker was charged with one count of Class A felony child molesting and one count of Class C felony child molesting after a joint investigation by the Putnam County Department of Child Services and the Putnam County Sheriff's Department. According to court records, Baker had sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl on more than one occasion.

Baker initially pled not guilty to both charges, but eventually admitted to authorities that he had molested the girl. He told police he had a problem, had been dealing with it for several years and needed help.

A jury trial was set for Baker on May 13, but on May 12 he entered a guilty plea to the Class A felony. Under the terms of a plea agreement, the Class C felony charge was dismissed.

The victim, now 14, lives in Delphi with her father.

At his sentencing, family members told the court Baker had been a victim of sexual abuse as a child.

Baker did not take the stand in his own defense.