By Paul Daquilante • Staff Writer • 

Home intruder undergoes sentencing

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Comments

Bill B

So, the DA recommended only two weeks in jail! We need a new DA.

Lulu

We have no justice system in Yamhill County.

sbagwell

This guy suffers from schizophrenia, paranoia and other mental disabilities. He was hearing voices at the time. When he was asked if he had done what he was accused of, he couldn't recall, but allowed as how he guessed he probably had.
So what good does locking him up on our dime do, other that waste stacks of our tax dollars? You could send one of these guys to Harvard for a year for the same money it would take to keep him behind bars, and to what end? Do you think he would emerge more of sound mine?
I'm all for deterrence for hard-core criminals who are factoring in the cost of the crime. But it doesn's work for mental cases unable to exercise normal control over their own actions.
What's more, there was nothing in the felony realm he could be charged with. And first convictions on misdemeanor charges like criminal mischief don't support more than token jail time.
The sentence was a direct outgrowth of the facts of the case. Put the same facts before other courts elsewhere and you'd get the same result.
He needs mental help, and the local judicial system is doing its best to see that help is provided. I understand your frustration, but think it is getting misdirected.
Steve

Bill B

Steve, you say "to what end?" To keep this guy from terrorizing another citizen, that's what. What will deter this from happening a second time? What would have happened if the victim didn't have a gun? Scary stuff!

sbagwell

It is scary stuff. Absolutely no question the family was terrorized.

However, grounds existed only for minor misdemeanor charges, due to the lack of any coherent intent. So we would be talking something like 90 days at most.

That keeps him off the streets for another two months. I don't see a lot of gain in that. He'd soon be back, and we could look forward to decades of continued threat.

It seems to me our best shot at long-term community safety is getting this guy some mental health treatment, and that's what the court was trying to do. It's not a magic answer, but I think it offers better prospects than a few months in jail.

Steve

Lulu

Too bad the homeowner wasn't a better shot.

tagup

Thanks for the inspirational comment Lulu..... nice to see so much compassion.....

Denise

Wow Steve.

Just wow.

Your ridiculous assement of this situation is absolutely ludicrous.

I hope you’re not terrorized by someone violently trying to break into your home only to see the criminal walk basically Scott free.

And you’re suggesting that it costs over $63k to incarcerate criminals?

Whatever.

Lulu

You honestly predict Larry Baker will make this world a superior place? I'm sick of all the feebs of this county holding everyone else hostage. With your extraordinary empathy that translates so well on paper, why don't you take him in, tagup? Meanwhile, call me fed up.

tagup

Does Larry Baker need to make your world a superior place?
You’re fed up so you wish him dead?
Are YOU making this world a superior place?

Lulu

Feh.
I want him in an institution, where he belongs.

Denise

When members of the press twist facts to suit their narrative, it creates feelings of mistrust and animosity.

To imply that it would cost the taxpayers an additional $63k to keep Mr Baker in custody for a year is pure hyperbole. And Steve knows it.

There are fixed costs already in place to keep the criminal justice system in place, and it would only cost whatever minimal food costs to keep him locked up for a year to stabilize on his medications and get whatever mental health treatment and/or drug treatment he may need. This would make the community safer. Not kicking him out after 30 days. It’s ridiculous, and people are upset, again, at our court system.

I feel bad for the homeowners, who will have to deal with this for the rest of their lives. I am glad Mr Baker didn’t get killed, but he should have gone to prison.

Mudstump

Locking him up does little for this guy or society if he doesn't receive mental health treatment including medication if necessary.

Bill B

Mudstump, did you bother to read any of the other comments? Locking him up protects the rest of us.

Denise

Mudstump

If he was in prison, he would be medicated, stabilized, and receiving treatment.

Obviously Mr Baker was none of those and terrorized an innocent family.

You, and Steve, are suggesting that he can be trusted? History would indicate otherwise.

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