Michigan man pleads guilty to sexually abusing preteen in Champaign County
Jul. 3—URBANA — A Michigan man will soon be sentenced to two years of probation after he admitted to sexually abusing a young girl in Mahomet over a decade ago.
Nathan D. Baker, 29, of Flat Rock, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to one count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse before Champaign County Judge Matt Lee.
In exchange for the negotiated plea, the state dismissed one count of predatory criminal sexual assault to a victim less than 13 years old and three counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse to a victim less than 13 years old.
A woman reported to the Champaign County Sheriff's Office on Jan. 9, 2021, that Baker had sexually abused her multiple times starting in 2011, Assistant State's Attorney Dan Reynolds said.
During the first occurrence, when the woman was 10 and Baker was her sister's boyfriend, he forced her to sit on his lap and held her there while he had an erection. She was then assaulted by Baker on a weekly basis from then on through May 2012, Reynolds said.
The woman reported that one of the earlier assaults involved Baker touching her body and genitals over and under her clothes. Baker also told her to touch his genitalia, used his finger to penetrate her, and used force to make her comply, Reynolds said.
The judge accepted the negotiated sentence of two years of probation, but scheduled a sentence-confirmation hearing for October as Baker is in the process of transitioning his probation to carry out in Michigan.
A warrant for Baker's arrest was issued in May 2021, but he wasn't arraigned until as authorities had difficulty connecting with him in Michigan, Champaign County Sheriff's Lt. Curt Apperson told The News-Gazette.
Baker must now follow any recommendations provided by an evaluation for sex offender treatment, and comply with the requirements of being a registered sex offender.
Baker faced three to seven years in prison for aggravated criminal sexual abuse, a Class 2 Felony. He had no prior criminal convictions.