Sneads Man Sentenced on Gun Charges - WMBB News 13 - The Panhandle's News Leader

Sneads Man Sentenced on Gun Charges

Jackson County jurors convicted Lawrence Curtis Baker Jr. on Tuesday of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Baker, 32, of 2235 River Road, Sneads, faces up to 15 years in prison when Circuit Judge William Wright sentences him. A sentencing date was not immediately set.

Assistant State Attorney Shad Redmon told jurors in his opening statement that Sneads Police Officer Brett Preston stopped a car belonging to Baker's girlfriend the morning of July 3, 2010. Preston was intending to ask her where Baker was. Baker had made threatening phone calls to the Sneads police chief and a sergeant a few days before and Preston wanted to talk to him.

As Preston approached the vehicle on foot, he noticed Baker in the passenger seat. About that time, Baker got out of the car and started walking away. Preston told him to stop, but Baker continued on foot into a field.

The officer followed him in his car, at which time Baker displayed a firearm. He escaped by jumping onto a passing train and riding it out of the area, but was arrested later that day.

Baker's prior convictions are: armed trespass in 2002, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in 2005, burglary of a structure and felony battery in 2009.

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Information provided by the State Attorney's Office