Baker pleads guilty in two cases, sentenced to probation

By Pete Bosak

Nittany Lion Chris Baker, facing felony charges in two separate assault cases, pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor charges in connection with the two cases and was sentenced to serve two years of probation.

A jury was scheduled to be selected next month for Baker's trial on charges stemming from a melee inside the Meridian II apartment complex in downtown State College. Baker was accused of forcing his way inside an apartment there on April 1, 2007, and assaulting someone inside. He was charged with burglary and criminal trespass, both felonies, and misdemeanor counts of simple assault, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct.

Baker also was awaiting trial on charges he was allegedly being one of about 15 football players who beat and stomped a man attending a party at the HUB-Robeson Center on campus Oct. 7. Baker, linebacker Navorro Bowman, and defensive lineman Phillip Taylor were each charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, harassment and disorderly conduct in that case.

Under the terms of the plea agreement reached today, Baker pleaded guilty to two counts of misdemeanor simple assault — one count stemming from each incident — and a misdemeanor count of defiant trespass in connection with the Meridian II incident.

For more details, see tomorrow's Centre Daily Times.