John Christensen The Chronicle-ExpressPENN YAN — Prior to a scheduled jury trial in Yates County Criminal Court, Thor R. Baker, 40, of Port Gibson, pled guilty Friday, Jan. 6 to 1st degree sexual abuse (class D felony) and degree attempted criminal sexual act (class E felony). Originally arrested by Yates County Sheriff’s Deputies in 2020 and charged with one count of predatory sexual assault against a child (class A-II felony) and one count of 1st degree rape (class B felony) following an investigation into allegations he had sexual intercourse with a juvenile under the age of 13. The incident was alleged to have occurred in the spring of 2019. District Attorney Todd Casella says part of Baker’s deal included an Alford plea, in which a defendant doesn’t admit to the crimes charged but pleads guilty believing he would be convicted at trial. Appearing before by Judge Jason Cook, Baker accepted a plea bargain in exchange for a promised sentence of 180 days in jail followed by 10 years of probation. He will also be registered as a sex offender prior to his release, following a sex offender registry assessment. Baker was remanded to jail until his sentencing, scheduled for March 14.
