BROWNSTOWN — A Seymour man has been ordered to serve over a decade behind bars following a negotiated plea agreement in a multi-year child sexual abuse investigation.
Robert D. Baker, 53, was sentenced to 12 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections by Jackson Circuit Court Judge Richard W. Poynter. The sentence represents the maximum penalty allowable by state law for a Level 4 felony offense.
The legal proceedings against Baker stem from his arrest in May 2024 by local law enforcement. At the time of his arrest, the then-51-year-old Seymour resident was formally charged with child molesting and sodomy following a targeted investigation into standard reports of child abuse.
Rather than proceeding to a full jury trial, Baker reached an agreement with state prosecutors to plead guilty to the Level 4 felony charge of child molesting. In exchange for the guilty plea, related elements of the initial indictment were reconciled as part of the final disposition.
Under Indiana’s structured criminal code, a Level 4 felony carries a rigid sentencing range designed to account for mitigating and aggravating circumstances:
- Minimum Sentence: 2 years
- Advisory Sentence: 6 years (the standard starting point for judges)
- Maximum Sentence: 12 years
During the sentencing hearing at the Jackson County Courthouse in Brownstown, the state presented aggravating factors regarding the nature of the abuse and the vulnerability of the young victim. Judge Poynter ultimately rejected standard advisory terms, siding with prosecutors to impose the maximum 12-year prison term to be served in its entirety.
Following the formal sentencing order, Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney Lynsey N. Fleetwood emphasized that her office remains unyielding in its commitment to aggressively pursue individuals who target children.
“This sentence reflects the seriousness of Baker’s conduct and sends a clear message that the sexual abuse of children will not be tolerated in Jackson County,” Prosecutor Fleetwood said in an official statement. “Protecting children and seeking justice for victims will always be a top priority for the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office.”
Following the court’s final ruling, Baker was remanded into the custody of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department for immediate transport and processing into the state prison system. Under Indiana law, individuals convicted of Level 4 felony sex offenses must serve a minimum of 75% of their imposed sentence before becoming eligible for supervised release.
