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Published: 1:25 am Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012

Updated: 10:13 am Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012

Templeton man accused of molestation wants to delay sentencing until Feb. 20

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Donald Baker

| nwilson@thetribunenews.com

A Templeton man who has pleaded no contest to molesting two children and possessing child pornography told a judge Tuesday that he hopes to postpone his sentencing until Feb. 20 after he receives additional radiation treatment for his cancer.

Donald Baker, 40, appeared in San Luis Obispo Superior Court for his sentencing to discuss his medical condition.

Baker said in court that he has lung cancer that has spread to other parts of his body, including his brain, which now has lesions.

Baker told Judge Barry LaBarbera that his doctors want to take a MRI of his brain after additional radiation treatment.

Baker faces 10 to 20 years in state prison as part of the plea agreement.

Baker has told The Tribune that he entered the plea to spare the children from testifying in a trial and because he doesn’t expect to live long. However, he denied the allegations.

LaBarbera said that he’d like to hear from a California Department of Corrections official on Thursday about whether the prison system can accommodate his medical needs.

Baker is scheduled to return to court at 1:30 p.m. Thursday for a decision by the judge about how to proceed.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The headline on this story has been corrected to remove that Baker has been convicted. Conviction would not take place until sentencing and the case being final.

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