Lincoln man sentenced to 41 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for sexually assaulting a child and producing child pornography.

On April 30, 2019, Associate Judge William Workman accepted a fully negotiated plea agreement sending Daniel C. Baker, 34, of the 1100 block of Postville Drive, to 41 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Baker pleaded guilty to one count of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a Child and one count of Child Pornography, each a Class X Felony. On the first count, Baker was sentenced to 35 years and must serve at least 85% of the sentence. On the second count, Baker was sentenced to 6 years and must serve at least 50% of that sentence. The sentences must be served consecutively and Baker was given credit for the 428 days he spent in pre-trial detention. As a consequence of these offenses, Baker must serve between 3 years and natural life of mandatory supervised release (formerly called parole) and register as a sex offender for the rest of his natural life.

During the plea Logan County State’s Attorney Bradley Hauge stated that in August of 2017 Baker forced a child he knew, who was under 13 years old, to touch him and that Baker also took a photograph of the incident.

The Sangamon County Child Advocacy Center with the assistance of the Lincoln Police Department investigated this case.

One in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused by the time they are 18 years old. If you suspect a child is being abused, call 1-800-25-ABUSE.