A sex offender facing a new child pornography charge waived a bond hearing in federal court Thursday afternoon in expectation of jail time for an offense in state court.
Baker was assessed a 60-month term of probation in October 2013 in Dallas County, Ark., for Internet stalking of a child and is required to register as a sex offender as a result of the felony conviction. At Thursday's hearing, Fields told Bryant she expects probation officials and prosecutors in Dallas County to file a motion to revoke Baker's state probation Thursday. An offender in custody on a revocation warrant is not entitled bail. That means Baker would likely remain behind bars even if Bryant agreed to his release.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Wulff filed a motion last week asking that Baker remain in jail while his case proceeds. Wulff's motion cites a need for community protection and the serious nature of the alleged offense. Fields said she may ask the court to hold a detention hearing at a later date if Baker's state case is resolved without jail or prison time.
An indictment, handed down Jan. 27 by a federal grand jury in the Texarkana Division of the Western District of Arkansas and unsealed last week, accuses Baker of accessing a computer with the intent to view child pornography from May 1, 2013, to April 28, 2014. The government included a notice in Baker's indictment of its intent to seek his forfeiture of a Dell Inspiron laptop computer and a Seagate external hard drive.
Baker's federal case is scheduled for jury selection March 29 before U.S. District Judge Susan Hickey.