Georges man indicted on firearms violations
PITTSBURGH – A Georges Township man who barricaded himself in his home last summer was indicted Tuesday by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh. According to U.S. District Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan, Raymond Conway Baker III, 45, of 113 Ross Circle was the only defendant named in the three-count indictment charging him with violating federal firearms laws.
According to Buchanan, Baker was allegedly found in possession of a fully automatic assault rifle, a silencer and four explosive devices.
Baker was initially charged in Fayette County with aggravated assault, simple assault, terroristic threats, recklessly endangering another person and harassment following the armed standoff.
According Fayette County court records, Baker will face trial for all of the charges except the aggravated assault charge, which was dropped.
State police said Baker holed up in his mobile home the evening of July 26 as dozens of state police troopers and emergency officials surrounded his home. He surrendered around 9 p.m., police said.
After police searched Baker’s home and storage unit, investigators allegedly uncovered 55 guns and four homemade bombs.
State police trooper George Mrosko said investigators discovered 21 guns, including a fully automatic M-16 machine gun, in Baker’s home. Mrosko said an additional 34 weapons and the bombs were found in the storage shed.
The standoff began in the Strickland Estates housing complex off Walnut Hill Road after Baker engaged in an argument with his wife, Shelley Baker, according to police.
Mrosko alleged in the affidavit of probable cause that during the argument Baker struck his wife in the face and then retrieved a shotgun from his bedroom and pointed the weapon at Shelley Baker’s head and threatened he would shoot and kill her.
At that point, Shelley Baker and her two children fled the residence and contacted police.
Baker then barricaded himself in the mobile home, refusing to surrender to police for several hours.
If convicted at the federal level, Baker could face up to 30 years in prison and $750,000 in fines.