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By AARON LeCLAIR
Boomerang Staff Writer
A Laramie woman pleaded guilty on Thursday to stealing items from two vehicles that were parked in the Coppers Corner parking lot this summer.
Tina Larie Baker, 36, 503 Shields, pleaded guilty to two counts of felony burglary in Albany County District Court.
In exchange, one count of possession of a controlled substance, hydrocodone, will be dismissed from District Court and downgraded to a misdemeanor in Albany County Circuit Court.
Also, Baker has agreed to plead guilty to one count of misdemeanor larceny in Circuit Court and to pay restitution to the victims.
According to Jennifer Stone, an Albany County deputy attorney, Laramie police were dispatched to Coppers Corner Bar on July 17 for a report of a woman stealing items from a vehicle in the parking lot.
“They were advised that there was a male victim chasing a female suspect,” Stone said.
Police arrived and questioned Baker, who admitted to taking items out of the victim’s vehicle.
In addition, police found on her items that had belonged to another person who was at the bar.
“It was discovered that she also had property from another vehicle,” Stone said.
District Court Judge Jeffrey Donnell asked Baker why she stole from the two vehicles in the Coppers Corner Bar parking lot.
“So you were burglarizing vehicles. Why?”
Baker said she was acting out of character when she committed the crimes.
“There is no good excuse for it,” she said.
However, Baker said at the time she had just been released from the Ivinson Memorial Hospital Behavioral Health Department and was on powerful psychiatric medication to help deal with an assault that had taken place earlier this year.
“I … have not been myself since,” she said. “I was under a lot of medication.”
In spite of the medication she was taking at the time, Donnell asked if Baker was aware that what she was doing was wrong.
“Did you know what you were doing when you burglarized these vehicles?”
Baker admitted that she did know what she was doing was wrong but that the medication clouded her judgment.
“Yes and no,” she said. “I was aware but I wasn’t … I’ve never done anything before like this.”
Baker said she has apologized to the victims and would do whatever the court orders.
“I’m going to do what the court asks of me,” she said. “Alls (sic) I’m asking is for one chance.”
Baker will remain in the Albany County Detention Center on a $25,000 cash bond until a sentencing hearing is scheduled.
Felony burglary is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000 or both.
If she is given consecutive sentences, Baker could face up to 20 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.
Tina Larie Baker, 36, 503 Shields, pleaded guilty to two counts of felony burglary in Albany County District Court.
In exchange, one count of possession of a controlled substance, hydrocodone, will be dismissed from District Court and downgraded to a misdemeanor in Albany County Circuit Court.
Also, Baker has agreed to plead guilty to one count of misdemeanor larceny in Circuit Court and to pay restitution to the victims.
According to Jennifer Stone, an Albany County deputy attorney, Laramie police were dispatched to Coppers Corner Bar on July 17 for a report of a woman stealing items from a vehicle in the parking lot.
“They were advised that there was a male victim chasing a female suspect,” Stone said.
Police arrived and questioned Baker, who admitted to taking items out of the victim’s vehicle.
In addition, police found on her items that had belonged to another person who was at the bar.
“It was discovered that she also had property from another vehicle,” Stone said.
District Court Judge Jeffrey Donnell asked Baker why she stole from the two vehicles in the Coppers Corner Bar parking lot.
“So you were burglarizing vehicles. Why?”
Baker said she was acting out of character when she committed the crimes.
“There is no good excuse for it,” she said.
However, Baker said at the time she had just been released from the Ivinson Memorial Hospital Behavioral Health Department and was on powerful psychiatric medication to help deal with an assault that had taken place earlier this year.
“I … have not been myself since,” she said. “I was under a lot of medication.”
In spite of the medication she was taking at the time, Donnell asked if Baker was aware that what she was doing was wrong.
“Did you know what you were doing when you burglarized these vehicles?”
Baker admitted that she did know what she was doing was wrong but that the medication clouded her judgment.
“Yes and no,” she said. “I was aware but I wasn’t … I’ve never done anything before like this.”
Baker said she has apologized to the victims and would do whatever the court orders.
“I’m going to do what the court asks of me,” she said. “Alls (sic) I’m asking is for one chance.”
Baker will remain in the Albany County Detention Center on a $25,000 cash bond until a sentencing hearing is scheduled.
Felony burglary is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000 or both.
If she is given consecutive sentences, Baker could face up to 20 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.
