Soldier pleads guilty to burglary, assault
Posted On: Wednesday, Jun. 24 2009 05:45 AM
By Hayley Kappes
Killeen Daily HeraldBELTON – A Fort Hood soldier has pleaded guilty to burglarizing a Harker Heights home with the intent to commit sexual assault and forcing a resident to perform a sex act.
Jonathan Matthew Baker, 19, was set to stand trial Tuesday morning in the 264th District Court before he pleaded guilty.
Baker faces up to 99 years in prison. Judge Martha Trudo of the 264th District Court is scheduled to sentence him July 23.
A Bell County grand jury indicted Baker on March 5 in connection with the incident, which occurred last November.
Baker entered a woman's home in southeast Harker Heights after breaking a window and sexually assaulted her, according to the arrest affidavit. The victim reported Baker stole her credit card and other property, then fled.
The victim's stolen credit card was used at a Cefco gas station after the incident. Harker Heights police obtained a photograph of the transaction from the store.
An officer said he recently conducted a traffic stop on the man filmed by the gas station's surveillance camera using the credit card and identified him as Baker.
The victim viewed Baker's photo in a lineup and identified him as the man who assaulted her, according to the affidavit.
Assistant District Attorney Mike Waldman said even though Baker pleaded guilty, there is no cap on the number of years he can receive on his sentence.
"(Baker) up and surprised us. We were ready to go," Waldman said. "We didn't offer him anything in terms of a plea deal. It was a horrible crime."
Law stipulates those convicted of sex offender crimes must serve at least half their sentence before they are released, but Waldman said that stipulation does not apply to Baker since he committed burglary of a habitation before he sexually assaulted the victim.
Baker must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
Waldman said he anticipates Baker's sentencing trial will take an entire day. He said he will call the victim, all officers and witnesses involved in the case to testify.
Contact Hayley Kappes at
hayleyk@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7559.