A Fresno County judge decided Wednesday that Harry Baker, the former Madera County supervisor facing trial for alleged child molestation, was incompetent to continue court proceedings and suspended the criminal trial due to Baker’s poor health.
Baker, 87, suffered a severe stroke March 10 that left him with little ability to speak, Baker’s attorney Roger Nuttall said, and without control of his body’s left side.
Nuttall said a psychologist who originally deemed Baker mentally competent for trial reevaluated Baker’s condition after the stroke and found he could barely communicate with the former supervisor, which led to Judge Jonathan Conklin’s decision to suspend the case.
Nuttall said Baker was receiving excellent medical care, but his client’s condition was still rapidly declining and it appears unlikely Baker will survive...