A Bell County Jury Finds Christopher Baker Not Guilty After 3.5 Hour Deliberation
KILLEEN, Texas — A Bell County jury on Thursday found Christopher Lee Baker not guilty of a 2018 sexual assault charge, ending a case that remained active for more than six years. Jurors deliberated for about three and a half hours before returning the verdict.
Baker, who has maintained his innocence since his 2018 arrest, was taken into custody on April 28, 2018, after Harker Heights police responded to a report of a possible assault. He was later indicted on a second-degree felony sexual assault charge.
Jury selection took place on Monday in the 426th Judicial District Court. Jurors heard two full days of testimony on Tuesday and Wednesday, including testimony from responding officers, forensic analysts and witnesses familiar with the people involved. Closing arguments were delivered Thursday morning.
Throughout the trial, defense attorneys Kyra Leal and Steve Walden argued that Baker could not have committed the alleged offense, stressing that forensic testing found none of Baker’s DNA on the accuser or her clothing. They also noted that Baker consistently denied the allegation from the first night and cooperated fully with investigators.
Baker said the verdict brings long-awaited relief.
“This case has shaped every part of my life since 2018,” he said. “I told the truth from the beginning, and I’m grateful the jury listened to the evidence and cleared my name. My family and I can finally start to move forward.”
Leal said the jury found our client not guilty because the evidence did not support the charges against him.
“This was an emotional case for our team because we knew Chris was innocent of the allegations and that the State’s investigation was flawed. ” Leal said. “The jury weighed every piece of testimony and every forensic result, and it was clear the state had not met its burden. This case has followed Mr. Baker for more than six years, affecting his family, his work and his reputation. The verdict gives him the closure he has been waiting for.”
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