Lehighton man pleads to rape charge

A Lehighton man is facing a long state prison term after he pleaded guilty in the county court on Thursday to two sexual assault charges, including rape by forcible compulsion, a felony 1.

Timothy Baker, 33, also pleaded to one count of aggravated indecent assault. He was originally charged with five counts of corruption of minors and indecent assault, two counts of aggravated indecent assault and one count each of rape by forcible compulsion and statutory sexual assault. All the other counts were dropped in a plea agreement with the district attorney’s office.

He admitted raping a then 11-year-old girl. He pleaded to the two counts involving two separate incidents at two residences in Lehighton. Police charged he had sexually assaulted the victim multiple times.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by Lehighton Detective Matt Arner:

On June 14, 2017, Arner said an 11-year-old girl was brought to the police station by her mother.

She told police she had been sexually assaulted by a man identified as Baker, over the course of several months. The victim said there were at least five incidents at two residences in Lehighton.

Arner spoke to Baker on July 5 but he denied all allegations against him at that time.

Arner also spoke with two of the girl’s classmates and both confirmed that the victim confided to them about the allegations in May.

Judge Steven R. Serfass told Baker under state sentencing guidelines he faces a minimum sentence of somewhere between 48 to 60 months up to a maximum of 240 months in prison at the time of sentencing.

Sentencing was deferred as the charges fall under the provisions of Megan’s Law. The state sexual offenders assessment board will determine if Baker is a violent sexual predator. Serfass also ordered the adult probation to prepare a presentence investigation report.

Baker has been an inmate in the county prison since his arrest in 2017.