John Stephen Baker, a 71-year-old resident of Tucson, has been sentenced to eight and a half years in federal prison for attempting to travel with the intent to engage in illicit sexual activity. United States District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps handed down the sentence on September 10. After serving his prison term, Baker will be subject to lifetime supervised release.
According to court records, from February 6, 2023, through May 10, 2023, Baker communicated online with someone he believed was a 14-year-old girl. The individual was actually an undercover special agent with Homeland Security Investigations. During these communications, Baker discussed sexual topics and voiced concerns about being arrested if he engaged in sex with an underage person. Despite these concerns, on May 10, 2023, Baker traveled from Tucson to Sahuarita intending to meet the minor for illicit purposes.
The case falls under Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative started by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at fighting child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project coordinates efforts among federal, state, and local agencies to find and prosecute offenders who target children online and rescue victims. More information about this initiative can be found at www.justice.gov/psc.
Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation into Baker’s actions. Assistant United States Attorneys Nathaniel J. Walters and Jennifer H. Berman prosecuted the case for the District of Arizona.
“Beginning around February 6, 2023, and continuing through May 10, 2023, Baker communicated with a person he believed to be a 14-year-old female, who was actually an undercover special agent with Homeland Security Investigations. During his chats with the undercover agent, Baker asked about previous sexual experiences and expressed fears with engaging in sexual intercourse with an underage female because of the potential for arrest. Nonetheless, on May 10, 2023, Baker traveled from his home in Tucson to Sahuarita, Arizona, with the intent to engage in illicit sexual activity with the person he believed to be an underage female.”
“This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Officers and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.”
“Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Nathaniel J. Walters and Jennifer H. Berman, District of Arizona handled the prosecution.”
