AWOL Soldier Charged In Home Invasion, Rape

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(November 19, 2008)—Jonathan Matthew Baker, 19, who Harker Heights police said was AWOL from Fort Hood, was in the Bell County Jail Wednesday, charged with burglary of a habitation and sexual assault in connection with a home-invasion robbery and rape.

The incident happened around 1 a.m. Saturday at a residence in southeast Harker Heights.

Police said a man forced his way into a residence, raped the 37-year-old woman who lived there, and then stole property before fleeing.

Police arrested Baker on Tuesday at his residence in Killeen.

He was ordered held in lieu of bonds totaling $300,000.

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Posted by: shirley C Location: Georgia on Nov 24, 2008 at 07:33 PM
I think the 19 yr old that comitted rape and burglary of a habitation prabally has some mental issues, and needs to talk to a shrink, and I do think he needs to pay for what he has done, but we should try an approach that is not so traditional. Jail is the answer now but before the crime the ARMY should have done a thorough mental evaluation on all of these guys, because as we can see alot of them seem to have mental issues, either from thier childhoods or from battle, whatever the case, we need to find the answer so that we can help another woman to be safe from these violent criminals. I hope and pray that this young lady can be healed of the pain that this fellow has caused her.

Posted by: hello Location: Round Rock on Nov 22, 2008 at 10:14 PM
Thank you "yup" from coppers cove! everyone is responsible for their own actions and i appreciate you supporting our men and women out their despite the few out there who are like this one!

Posted by: Yep Location: Cove on Nov 21, 2008 at 07:32 AM
To: A Deployed Soldier Location: Afghanistan Dont worry dude. Some people will blame the Army, but the vast majority knows that each person is responsible for thier own actions. By the way, thanks for using the expression Turd Bag, gave me a laugh...lol Yeah, I know this subject is not funny, not why I am laughing.

Posted by: Anon Location: Waco on Nov 20, 2008 at 05:25 PM
Apparently by the way he looks he can't find anyone that wants him so he has to go out and rape someone. I'm not trying to make fun of this story, but it is really sad that he stooped to that level and took the security away from this woman. I don't see how anyone can be that low as to rape someone. He obviously has some problems and needs to be locked up and the key thrown away. I hope this woman can get on with her life and she finds peace within her to help her move on from this horrible tragedy. If the army wants to keep on going they need to take control of their people. You hear more and more about army guys going crazy and hurting people. Don't we need to get these guys under control and maybe it will be a lot safer to live in the Killeen area? This is rediculous.

Posted by: A Deployed Soldier Location: Afghanistan on Nov 20, 2008 at 01:27 PM
First off I pray for the woman and hope she pulls through this ok. Now with the soldier he never deployed and was always a turd bag and you cant blame the Army for a persons actions, do you blame a civilians job when he does the same thing? I dont think so, so dont go blaming this on the Army, soldiers are not robots they are just like everyone else, so QUIT blaming the Army for one persons actions. All he is, is a punk kid that needs to be beat down. The Army doesnt have the manpower to hunt down every AWOL soldier so they have to wait until the mess up to find them and they will be punished under civilian authority since it happened offpost. so he will get whats coming to him

Posted by: Deployed Soldier Location: Afghanistan on Nov 20, 2008 at 12:49 PM
This worthless excuse for a human being was in my Platoon and did everything in his power not to deploy because he was a scared little boy. His wife deployed which makes her more of a man than he is. If she stays with him thru this she is a MORON. I am utterly ashamed that I or my family ever came into contact with him. Please do not judge other soldiers on his actions alone. I hope that he stays in jail for a long time and gets the same treatment that he gave that poor woman. My heart goes out to her and hope that she is doing alright.

Posted by: American Solider Location: Deployed on Nov 20, 2008 at 08:12 AM
First i pray for the women that she is all right, but secondly don't be blame the army for his actions. I was personally in the unit he was in and he has never deployed so it was nothing like that so stop blaming the army for peoples actions, and start blaming the culprit themselves.

Posted by: Jess Location: Killeen on Nov 20, 2008 at 01:12 AM
Oh, and for some who are wondering why didn't the military come and get his freak before he started acting crazy...well that is the Army for ya! :) LOL

Posted by: Jess Location: Killeen on Nov 20, 2008 at 01:09 AM
LOL to Sabrina's comment...that is so true though...hahahaaa :P Killeen is full of easy women...no need of raping any. Oh, and FYI, I am not one of them! :)

Posted by: Anonymous Location: killeen on Nov 19, 2008 at 11:01 PM
he is married and has a lot of problems. He will get what is coming to him. He didn't deploy so it's not ptsd. When you're AWOL they don't really look for you. When you mess up and get caught you get arrested. They don't have time to hunt down every soldier who goes AWOL.

Posted by: John Location: Afghanistan on Nov 19, 2008 at 10:20 PM
First of all this bum never has been to combat! His unit is deployed and no we don't send people back from combat to look for an AWOL soldier. Next time you vote for a liberal politician think twice becasue this is what product you get in the new military. Mr Viet Nam sorry you had it so bad this is only my four tour in the GWOT and its just been peachy. NOT!!! Lets see one 12 month tour and three 15 month tours and never had that PX you speak of. don't be so bitter but support the good soldiers not the people like Baker

Posted by: sabrina Location: Killeen on Nov 19, 2008 at 09:05 PM
Hope he stays in jail...There is more than enough ladies WILLING to give up booty here in Killeen, NEVER a need to go take it!!! I hope he gets treated the same way in jail that he treated that woman.

Posted by: C Location: Copperas Cove on Nov 19, 2008 at 05:04 PM
Why didn't the Military go to his residence and get him? They were probably glad the bum was gone. Problem is that they will probably release jurisdiction to the military and the wussie commanders will not do anything except kick him out, again leaving him to rape and pillage again. Its time the military started taking responsibility for their soldiers and locking them up. Did you know a civilian charged for domestic assault (even just a push) can be prosecuted for Domestic Assault. According to the Laughtenburg Ammendment that person cannot work anywhere a firearm is required or even own one, but a soldier can beat his/her spouse to near death and not be subject to Laughtenberg because the commanders give an article 15 which is non-judicial. I blame this new General at Ft Hood for not wanting to do anything to offend these bums. Iraq has nothing to do with it, they have 52" TV, email etc. We had Viet Nam and swamps, not AAFES Pizza. Undiciplined punks, prosecute them!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Hood resident Location: Ft Hood on Nov 19, 2008 at 03:40 PM
This man is an animal & deserves what he gets. True some of our soldiers are coming back needing extra attn. but this is not acceptable. This has nothing to do w/ being a soldier, this is all on him. He made this decision. He may be suffering from PTSD but doesn't put these ideas in his head. He along w/ a few others are making the rest of the soldiers not look good. Pray for our troops, their families & of course the woman who was involved.!!!!

Posted by: Just sayin is all Location: Ft Hood on Nov 19, 2008 at 03:14 PM
OMG - SD, You are right, it was so obvious I missed it. I wonder WHY the Army hadnt come after him.

Posted by: John E. Location: Salado, TX on Nov 19, 2008 at 02:58 PM
Maybe his high school teacher sent a topless photo of herself to him when he was 14 years old. Egad!!! No wonder this poor guy went nuts!!! A topless photo of a female is HARMFUL MATERIAL!!! Soon, Mr. Obama and Reverend Sharpton will be holding a vigil for this guy because he was mistreated.

Posted by: SD Location: HH on Nov 19, 2008 at 12:47 PM
Did anybody notice that Harker Heights PD went to his "residence" and arrested the jerk??? Why didn't the military do the same thing BEFORE this PSYCHO raped and robbed someone? I also agree that most of the guys coming back need some counseling at the least. Nothing saying they are permenantly damaged but that they need to process the past year to eighteen months of separation, loss, violence and other hardships.

Posted by: Mike Location: Central Tx on Nov 19, 2008 at 11:53 AM
I can not think of why someone would think that just because he is a soldier it is ok. I can not pray for him when he resorts to crime and the raping of a female, He needs to be in jail. I also pray and hope that the woman will recover in time. Great job to the police department for the quick turnaround in the arest.

Posted by: C Location: Waco on Nov 19, 2008 at 11:45 AM
Um!19 yrs. old what made him do such a horrible thing, i too pray for our soldiers and hope that him being a soldier didn't have anything to do with this behavior, hope the female is ok, God Bless

Posted by: ginny Location: cove on Nov 19, 2008 at 11:44 AM
maybe they should start screening wanna be military instead of taking any gang bangers and criminals. this is making our military look really bad and it's just a few that make it look bad on the rest. my son is a soldier, he's a fine upstanding citizen that is also tired of the trash they are sending him.

Posted by: Just sayin is all Location: Ft Hood on Nov 19, 2008 at 11:34 AM
He's a punk and an embarrassment. He is now where he belongs. Thank goodness he is not standing beside our courageous soldiers any more.

Posted by: Loco1 Location: Waco on Nov 19, 2008 at 11:29 AM
He don't need medical help! He needs to be put in jail for a long time.

Posted by: Bill Location: Georgetown on Nov 19, 2008 at 11:28 AM
No Heart of Texas.....he needs to be in jail !!!

Posted by: Michelle Location: Central TX on Nov 19, 2008 at 11:17 AM
He looks mean and disturbed...I hope that the woman recovers...great job to those who were able to catch him quickly. Book'em Dano!!!

Posted by: Heart-Of-Texas Location: Waco on Nov 19, 2008 at 11:15 AM
Again, Our Soldiers/Troops need Medical help!! I'm sorry for the victim. Please Pray for our Soldiers, 'where ever' they are! and for this victim!! Back-To-The-Future!!

Posted by: Curt H. Location: Waco on Nov 19, 2008 at 10:57 AM
Rape? Christ, isn't time we started dealing with these animals accordingly? Castration would be kind... this a**hole should get the needle. Only when we send a tough enough message will these animals start getting it. Women NEVER EVER deserve to be sexually assaulted regardless of their behavior. Those that think they sometimes do are potential rapists.

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