Everything about the legal situation surrounding New York Giants cornerback DeAndre Baker feels like a documentary about a real crime in the vein of “Making a Murderer” or even “Tiger King”.
Each of these shows has bizarre and unexpected twists and turns, bizarre decisions made by lawyers and law enforcement, and sketchy characters that felt more “Breaking Bad” than real life.
Baker’s case is no different.
On Thursday, things got even stranger for Baker, his attorneys and just about everyone involved in the case like Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News reported that no Florida State Attorney’s Office would investigate Dominic Johnson, who allegedly witnessed the armed robbery. committed by Baker.
Believe it or not, it doesn’t appear that the Florida State Attorney’s Office is prosecuting Dominic Johnson, the alleged crime witness of DeAndre Baker and Quinton Dunbar who allegedly also arranged the payment of the alleged victims described in my story. in July (Discussion) https://t.co/4EP3b2mxaj
– Pat Leonard (@PLeonardNYDN) August 20, 2020
As Leonard delved into the reasoning behind the lack of investigation, he had the chance to tour the world with the Broward State Attorney’s Office and the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office offering conflicting information, mostly pointing fingers.
Here is the following set of tweets from Leonard describing this:
So I contacted the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office. The spokesperson said: “We have not had any investigative contact on this matter with either the Miramar Police Department or the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which we believe was involved in this. case.” (after)
– Pat Leonard (@PLeonardNYDN) August 20, 2020
Then I heard the spokesperson for Miami-Dade SA again: “I have since learned, without my knowledge, that the Miramar police had sent emails to a Miami-Dade ASA regarding the extension of his criminal investigation into DeAndre Baker … (more)
– Pat Leonard (@PLeonardNYDN) August 20, 2020
Broward therefore claims no jurisdiction over any Johnson charges, although the original alleged crime occurred in Broward.
Miami-Dade first claims he hasn’t been contacted, then changes and says well that he’s been contacted, but that’s still not where the case belongs.
And so on…
– Pat Leonard (@PLeonardNYDN) August 20, 2020
Seattle Seahawks CB Quinton Dunbar was also originally charged with the theft, but prosecutors said this month they would drop the case against him, citing a lack of evidence. They carried out four counts of robbery with a gun against Baker. These charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, with the maximum penalty being life imprisonment.
Now it’s starting to appear as though no one in Florida is interested in pursuing charges or investigating anyone other than 22-year-old Baker who has maintained his innocence.
Even Dunbar himself appeared to be defending Baker soon after he avoided accusations.
Baker remains on the commissioner’s exemption list and an arraignment is scheduled for September 15.
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