A Kentucky man will spend three months in jail after pleading guilty to importuning.
Dennis Baker, 49, of Independence, appeared Nov. 1 in the courtroom of Wood County Common Pleas Judge Matt Reger.
He had been indicted in May for importuning and disseminating matters harmful to juveniles, both fifth-degree felonies.
From Jan. 6 to Feb. 4, he was accused of soliciting a law enforcement officer by means of a telecommunications device. The officer was posing as a 13-year-old or older but less than 16 years of age.
Bakerpleaded guilty to importuning in September and the disseminating charge has been dismissed.
Defense attorney Steve Spitler asked for community control sanctions.
“I think my client made it clear this really wasn’t him,” Spitler said.
Baker suffers from anxiety and depression and in on medication and is in counseling, he said.
“In my life I’ve struggle quite a bit. I hate what I did and I hate what I did to my family,” Baker said.
He said he had trouble coping with a son who has autism.
“I reached out to the wrong place at the wrong time,” Baker said. “It’s a horrible thing. It’s not me.”
Reger pointed out Baker made very explicit sexual statements to someone he thought was a 16-year-old girl.
“It was just to get my mind off of … death and dying,” Baker said.
Reger imposed a sentence of 90 days in jail, starting Nov. 8, followed by five years of community control.
He ordered Baker to have no contact with anyone under the age of 15, and not use any social media apps or websites.
He also must register as a Tier I sex offender, requiring annual registration for 15 years.
