Man pardoned by former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin sentenced to nearly 40 years in prison

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WYMT/Courier Journal) - A man who was formerly pardoned by Governor Matt Bevin is now facing nearly 40 years in federal prison, according to our news partners at the Courier Journal and a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky.

Patrick Baker was convicted of murder in August in federal court.

Baker was sentenced Tuesday to 42 years in prison, with credit for the 30 months he served in state prison for the murder of 29-year-old Donald L. Mills Jr. in 2014, for a total sentence of 39 years and six months.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenna Reed said she believes Baker’s sentence should be increased because he abused a position of public trust by pretending to be a police officer.

Baker’s lawyers, though, said the federal conviction should be reversed because the federal prosecution was vindictive. They also motioned for his sentence to be limited to 19 years.

“The simple truth of this case is that Patrick Baker was found guilty of planning and committing an armed home invasion, to acquire drugs, where he shot and killed Donald Mills,” said Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “Baker was convicted of a brazen act of violence – one that resulted in a murder, committed while the victim’s family was nearby. I want to commend the dedicated work of all our law enforcement partners and our trial team. Their faithful efforts were critical to the verdict, conviction, and sentence.”

“This was a violent crime that took a victim’s life and devastated a family,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the Louisville Field Division. “ATF is proud to have worked with the Kentucky State Police and the United States Attorney’s Office in bringing justice to this family.”

Baker was originally convicted of reckless homicide in 2017 but was pardoned by Bevin in 2019 before he left office.

He must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence, and when he is released, will be on probation for three years. Baker was also ordered to pay $7,500 in funeral expenses.

Copyright 2022 WYMT. All rights reserved.