Teen who attacked officer gets jail term

October 28, 2009

Patti Dozier The Times Enterprise Wed Oct 28, 2009, 08:52 PM EDT

THOMASVILLE — A former Thomas County Central High School student has been sentenced to prison for attacking a school resource officer at the school.

Kenneth Roosevelt Baker, 19, was sentenced to 12 months at Thomas County Prison and from 120-180 days at a Georgia Department of Corrections detention center on a count of felony obstruction of officer.

Baker was approached by a school official in February about use of a cell phone.

Sgt. Steven Jones, Thomas County Sheriff’s Office deputy and Thomas County Schools school resource officer coordinator, was called to assist.

Baker walked away, and Jones gave several orders to stop. Baker continued to walk away. When Jones took Baker’s arm to turn him around and talk to him, Baker struck the officer several times on the head.

Thomas County Superior Court Judge Harry Jay Altman also sentenced Baker to five years probation, a $50 crime lab fee, a $50 public defender application fee, pay Thomas County $500 for public defender, a $2,500 fine, 40 hours of community service and restitution of $617.30 to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia.

On a count of misdemeanor battery, Baker was sentenced to a concurrent 12 months probation.

The sentence calls for Baker to allow his DNA to be taken within 30 days. He is to have no contact with Jones and stay off TCCHS property.

“There are consequences to assaulting a law enforcement officer,” said Capt. John Richards, sheriff’s office chief of operations. “The court took all the information that was available to them and handed down the appropriate sentence.”