Chehalis Man Charged After Fleeing From Custody at Courthouse

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A Chehalis man has been charged with trying to escape from custody for allegedly bolting from a courtroom Monday afternoon after being found guilty of seven other crimes.

John Carl Baker, 49, was charged Tuesday with first-degree escape and custodial assault.

The previous afternoon, a jury returned guilty verdicts after a multi-day trial in Lewis County Superior Court Judge Richard Brosey’s courtroom for three counts of felony violation of a court order, domestic violence, two counts of felony harassment, one count of felony stalking, domestic violence and one count of first-degree criminal trespass, the only misdemeanor.

After the verdict was read, Brosey ordered Baker to be remanded to the custody of the Lewis County Jail pending his sentencing, scheduled for Thursday.

According to court documents, Baker suddenly ran for the door while other people in the courtroom were busy completing paperwork.

Corrections Officer William Wood, who was in the courtroom, ran after the defendant down a stairwell. Wood and the defendant fought in the stairwell twice down the four-flight egress to the Lewis County Law and Justice Center’s street level.

The last fight caused the two to tumble down the final flight of stairs.

Baker then left the building through the security door at the base of the stairs and fell onto Main Street, according to court documents.

At that point, Lewis County Sheriff’s Office detective Jeremy Almond saw Wood trying to subdue Baker through his office window.

Almond and Det. Sgt. Steve Aust ran to the scene. Wood pulled out his Taser, but did not fire it, and Almond and Aust handcuffed Baker, according to court documents.

Wood sustained a head injury from the fight and Baker had scrapes on his head, mouth and arms. Both were seen by medical personnel at the jail.

According to court documents, Baker told officers he ran after he was remanded to the jail and his attorney told him there was nothing else he could do.

Baker is facing six to nearly eight years in prison for his convictions Monday. If convicted of escape, he could face an additional 10 years in prison.

Baker is in custody at the Lewis County Jail. His next court appearance is scheduled for Thursday.