LIMA — A 15-year-old girl — who prosecutors said was raped by a person she knew well — took the witness stand Tuesday in Allen County Common Pleas Court.
Her testimony came on the opening day of the trial of William Baker, 40, of Elida, who is charged with two counts of rape, sexual battery, and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor in connection with indents that reportedly occurred April 7 at a residence on Poling Road in Allen County.
The rape charges are first-degree felonies punishable by up to 11 years in prison on each of two counts. Baker was indicted May 11 for events during which he “did engage in sexual conduct with another person … by force or the threat of force,” according to court documents.
In her opening statements to the jury of nine men and three women, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Terri Kohlrieser said testimony in the trial will show that the defendant began the encounter by rubbing the victim’s back on the morning in question, then moved his hands into her sweat pants and underwear.
The teenager reiterated that version of events in her testimony and said Baker subsequently removed her pants and underwear, inserted a finger or fingers into her vagina and then performed oral sex on her.
Defense attorney Carroll Creighton in his opening statements told jurors the girl is “someone who cannot be trusted” and who “does not have a reputation of being a truthful person.”
Kohlrieser called to the witness stand several professionals who spoke with the girl on the morning of the reported attack. A school resource officer at Elida High School, a guidance counselor at the school, and a member of the investigations unit of the Allen County Children Services Board each testified as to what they observed and what the girl reported to them on the day of the incident. Also taking the stand was the girl’s boyfriend.
Nicole Mikesell from the Children Services board related to jurors the details of a telephone conversation between the defendant and Nate Music, a detective with the Allen County Sheriff’s Office, that was conducted on speaker in Mikesell’s presence on the evening of the day in question.
Mikesell testified that when the phone conversation began, Baker “immediately started crying and said he was a horrible person. Mr. Baker was crying throughout almost the entire conversation, almost to the point that we were worried about him harming himself,” she said.
Mikesell also testified that during a follow-up interview with Baker at the Allen County jail, the defendant said the girl and her boyfriend had “concocted the whole thing.”
During her time on the stand, the girl testified that she “kinda froze” as she was being assaulted; that it was “hard to comprehend” what was happening to her. She said Baker asked if he could “go inside her” and she said “no,” at which time Baker said “please don’t tell anyone” about what had just happened.
Testimony will resume in the trial at 9 a.m. Wednesday.
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Defense Attorney Carroll Creighton cross-examines a witness during the rape trial of William Baker, 40, of Elida.
Melissa Schultz, a guidance counselor at Elida High School, testified Tuesday in the rape trial of William Baker of Elida.
