UPDATE 10:57 a.m. Tuesday: The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement unit arrested Donald Robert Baker at French Hospital Medical Center in San Luis Obispo on Monday afternoon.
Detectives found Baker and took him into custody at 4:45 p.m., though he remains at French hospital today.
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Check out our photo gallery of people arrested in SLO County on suspicion of committing felonies and read about their alleged crimes. See photos »
Though Baker has cancer, authorities did not say whether he was at the hospital for cancer treatment when he failed to attend his sentencing on child molestation charges in San Luis Obispo Superior Court on Monday.
After he failed to appear in court, Judge Barry LaBarbera issued a warrant for Baker’s arrest.
Original story: A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a local man convicted of child molestation.
Donald Robert Baker, 40, of Templeton, who has been staying in Santa Margarita in recent weeks, didn’t appear for his 3 p.m. sentencing today. He has been out of custody after posting bail.
Baker was scheduled for sentencing after several delays last week to address his medical issues.
Baker has lung cancer, which has spread to the rest of his body, for which he’s receiving radiation treatment and recently had fluid drained from a buildup in the sack around his heart to prevent a possible heart attack.
He has pleaded no contest to 11 criminal charges, including child molestation and possession of child pornography.
Judge Barry LaBarbera issued the bench warrant after several delays of Baker’s sentencing the past two weeks to determine whether his condition could be adequately treated in San Luis Obispo County Jail and state prison.
Baker is expected to be briefly housed in County Jail before being sent to state prison if he’s caught and sentenced.
County Undersheriff Martin Basti and an official from the state prison system both said last week that adequate medical treatment would be available for Baker after his incarceration.
If Baker is arrested and taken into custody, his sentencing would take place a day after, LaBarbera said.
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