A Donley County Jury convicted a Lelia Lake man last Friday of indecency with a child by contact.
William Lee Baum was found guilty of the second degree felony offense after a two day trial here last week. He was sentenced to 10 years in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and fined $10,000.00 by the Donley County jury.
“The nightmare is over for the family affected by this defendant’s actions,” said District Attorney Luke Inman. “The child’s willingness to come forward stopped the defendant from committing anymore horrible acts.”
Baum, age 67, was arrested for the offense of indecency with a child on July 17, 2009 after an investigation was conducted regarding an outcry of sexual abuse made by a family member. Baum was later indicted by a Donley County Grand Jury on October 5, 2009, for indecency with a child by contact.
According to documents filed with the Donley County Clerk’s office, the victim was eight years old at the time of the offense.
Thursday, the State began their case with the victim and the victim’s mother. Jennie Waggoner, Forensic Interviewer with the Bridge Children’s Advocacy Center, Danielle Livermore, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, Sheriff Charles “Butch” Blackburn, and Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Matt Mull also testified for the State.
The Donley County Jury deliberated for forty minutes before returning their verdict of guilty.
The defense put two witnesses on the stand during the punishment phase of the trial, one of whom was the defendant. The jury deliberated for twenty minutes before returning their punishment of ten years in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and fine of $10,000.
Under the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Baum will also be required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life upon his release from the Institutional Division.
“Sheriff Blackburn, Texas DPS, along with the Bridge Advocacy Center and Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners from Amarillo did an excellent job in investigating the crime committed against this victim from Donley County.” Inman said. “These cases are always difficult, but working with these qualified individuals helps us prepare solid cases against these types of defendants.”
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