NEWS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY

WESTERN DISTRICT OF KANSAS

JOHN F. WOOD

FEBRUARY 11, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FORMER SCHOOL LIBRARIAN SENTENCED TO 17.5 YEARS FOR SEXUAL ENCOUNTERS WITH GRADE SCHOOL GIRL

KANSAS CITY, KAN. - Anthony Baker, 36, Leavenworth, Kan., was sentenced Monday to 210 months on federal charges of producing child pornography.

At the time of the crime, Baker was a librarian at Muncie Elementary School in Leavenworth, Kan., and the victim was a 10-year-old student.

"Mr. Baker's sentence will not undo the damage he has done," said U.S. Attorney Eric Melgren. "But I hope it will serve to remind every parent and every educator that we all share the responsibility to protect our children from sexual predators."

Baker pleaded guilty in October 2007 to one count of producing child pornography.

In his plea, Baker admitted that he began tutoring the victim while she was a student at Muncie Elementary and that his wife objected to his having the girl over to their home and buying the girl presents. Baker's wife began monitoring how he used the computer at home. She discovered files that indicated he was chatting over the Internet with underage girls and collecting pornography that included sexual images of children.

After she turned the computer over to law enforcement officers, investigators discovered images of Baker and girl performing oral sex on one another, as well of photos of them both naked, as well as photos of him penetrating the girl.

In his plea on Oct. 24, 2007, he stated: "I enticed a 10-year-old female to engage in sexual conduct."

In addition to the prison sentence, Baker is required to pay $16,790 restitution for treatment and counseling of the victim. He will be required to register as a sex offender and when he is released from prison he will be required to serve 20 years on supervised release.

Melgren commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Martin for their work on the case.

For more information on how to keep children safe from sexual predators see the Web site at: www.projectsafechildhood.gov

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This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, is available on-line at
www.usdoj.gov/usao/mow/index.html