Suspect Who Attacked Man With Cerebral Palsy In West Chester Also Stole From Military Graves

WEST CHESTER, PA —The suspect in the West Chester assault of a man with cerebral palsy has a lengthy criminal history that includes theft, forgery, and more, according to Court of Common Pleas records.

Barry Baker, 29, of Georgetown, Delaware, has a rap sheet of several cases in Chester County, dating to 2006. Baker previously resided in Downingtown and Coatesville. In Coatesville he had owned a landscaping service, Baker's Tree Service that has since been much maligned on Yelp by a public outraged with his assault on a man with disabilities.

In 2008, he was convicted on charges of criminal conspiracy and theft by unlawful taking from 2006. He was charged later in 2006 with more than 80 counts of intentional desecration of public monument, but eventually pleaded down to receiving stolen property and criminal conspiracy. Then in 2008, Baker pleaded guilty to loitering and prowling at night and theft from a motor vehicle (again). These offenses netted him a series of short prison stays.

The desecration charges are linked to stealing more than 200 military flag holders from the graves of military veterans at two separate churches: the Forks of the Brandywine Church in West Brandywine and Hephzibah Baptist Church in East Fallowfield. The Pottstown Mercury first reported on this connection.

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Finally, a year later in January of 2009, Baker was arrested and again pleaded guilty to theft from a motor vehicle. He had originally been charged with three counts of criminal conspiracy, as well. He was sentenced to three years of probation, court documents show.

The most recent assault occurred at around 2:30 a.m. on May 10 at the 7-11 on 200 South High Street in West Chester. Baker mocked a 22-year-old man with cerebral palsy, making fun of the way he walked, before sucker punching him. The entire incident was caught on surveillance footage.

Assistant District Attorney Cindy Morgan has been assigned as the prosecutor.

Anyone who has any information about this incident should contact West Chester Police at 610-696-2600.

Image via Chester County District Attorney's Office