Sentence issued for sex offender

If the sex offender violates probation, he’ll go to prison for six years.

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — A 53-year-old Boardman man has been put on five years’ probation after he pleaded guilty to four counts of gross sexual imposition involving two boys.

Joseph Baker, of Maple Avenue, formerly of East Calla Road, North Lima, entered his pleas and was sentenced Wednesday by Judge Timothy E. Franken of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

Baker pleaded guilty to three counts of gross sexual imposition he committed in 2002 and 2003 against a boy who was 7 and 8 years old and one count of gross sexual imposition he committed in January 2003 against a 5-year-old boy.

Baker had been indicted by the Mahoning County grand jury in July 2004 on four counts of gross sexual imposition and 18 counts of rape. Each rape count would have carried a potential life prison term.

Baker entered his guilty plea after Dawn Cantalamessa, assistant county prosecutor, dropped one gross sexual imposition count and 17 rape counts and reduced one rape count to gross sexual imposition with the victims’ consent.

Judge Franken warned Baker that if he violates the terms of his probation, he’ll go to prison for six years.

Baker must register as a sex offender annually with the sheriff for 15 years, and he may not live within 1,000 feet of any school, pre-school or child day-care center.

Cantalamessa said the long delay in the case was due to postponements requested by the defense and postponements due to her maternity leave.

Cantalamessa said she agreed to the deal because one victim recanted, and it would have been a hardship for the other victim, who now lives in Maryland, to return to Youngstown for a trial. Both detectives who investigated the case also have retired from the county sheriff’s department, she added.