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Published: Wednesday, Feb. 01, 2012

Templeton man convicted of molestation is arrested at hospital

Convicted child molester Donald Baker, who has lung cancer, failed to appear in court for sentencing Monday

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Donald R. Baker

By Tribune staff | newsroom@thetribunenews.com

The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement unit arrested convicted child molester Donald Robert Baker at French Hospital Medical Center in San Luis Obispo on Monday afternoon.

Detectives found Baker, 40, and put him into custody at 4:45 p.m., though he remains at the hospital, according to a Tuesday news release from the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office.

Though Baker has lung cancer that has spread through his body, authorities did not say whether he was at the hospital for cancer treatment when he failed to attend 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.

Baker has pleaded no contest to 11 criminal charges, including child molestation and possession of child pornography.

LaBarbera issued the bench warrant after sentencing was delayed for Baker several times over the past two weeks.

Baker is expected to be briefly housed in County Jail before being sent to state prison if he’s 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 during his incarceration.

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