Beleaguered Giants cornerback DeAndre Baker is dealing with severe expenses for armed theft and aggravated assault stemming from an incident within the Miami space — expenses that might land him in jail and finish his soccer profession.
Baker’s legal professional, although, stated in an announcement Friday evening, “We imagine our consumer is harmless of any expenses.’’
The Miramar (Fla.) Police Division issued an arrest warrant for Baker, Seahawks cornerback Quinton Dunbar and one other man after an incident late Wednesday evening. Baker is charged with 4 counts of armed theft with a firearm and 4 counts of aggravated assault.
Dunbar’s lawyer, Michael Grieco, informed the Miami Herald he has affidavits from 5 witnesses saying Dunbar was not concerned.
Baker’s legal professional, Bradford Cohen, issued an announcement on his Instagram account casting doubt on the accuracy of the police report.
“We perceive that the officers can solely base warrants on what was informed to them on the time,’’ Cohen wrote. “We’ve got had affidavits from a number of witnesses that additionally dispute the allegations and exculpate our consumer. Our investigator has had them for a while.
“We’d have relatively offered them to the court docket on the correct time, relatively than within the media, however this present day, folks rush to judgement. The place some search publicity, we search justice. I stay up for transferring this case ahead to correct conclusion, as we imagine our consumer is harmless of any expenses.’’
![DeAndre Baker]()
As of Friday evening, Baker had not but turned himself into police.
Relying on how this performs out, Baker might go down as a wasted draft choose and by no means, ever once more swimsuit up for the Giants and it’s doable he by no means once more steps foot on the sector as an NFL participant. At 22 years previous, he might need flushed his profession away.
If Baker was, as witnesses say, holding a semi-automatic weapon, he might face a compulsory minimal of 15 years for every of the 4 armed theft expenses below Florida legislation if convicted. New York has a lot stiffer gun legal guidelines than Florida, however Florida imposes harsher penalties for armed theft. Plea offers might decrease the sentence.
“I see a participant who appears to be dealing with severe bother,’’ David Touger, a New York-based legal protection legal professional, informed The Put up. “You could have eyewitnesses who appear to know him. This man [allegedly] takes out a gun, threatens folks. In the event that they actually have witnesses saying he stated, ‘Shoot that man,’ that’s an actual crime. That’s heavy stuff.’’
The Giants traded up into the again finish of the primary spherical within the 2019 NFL Draft to take Baker, thought-about the highest cornerback within the class. Baker and Dunbar had been at a cookout once they allegedly took 1000’s of {dollars} in money and watches from their alleged victims, with Baker brandishing a semi-automatic gun and allegedly instructing a 3rd particular person, masked, to shoot somebody on the social gathering, in accordance with the police report.
One sufferer informed police he was “in concern for his life.’’
Baker and the 2 different males are additionally accused of premeditation, as their three luxurious vehicles had been “pre-positioned’’ for a fast getaway.
Two days earlier, Baker and Dunbar allegedly misplaced about $70,000 whereas playing at a celebration within the Miami space.
“His hardest argument right here is the gun rely,’’ Touger stated. “The theft counts sound actually dangerous, he went out, took their jewellery … however in a poker sport, if these are the identical folks from the final poker sport and he thought they had been dishonest, you possibly can type of make excuses for the theft. I might have optimism about profitable that case. The issue right here is the gun. Even in Florida you possibly can’t use a gun to threaten anyone.’’
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At any time when Baker turns himself in, how critically legislation enforcement and the federal government wish to go after him will probably be mirrored considerably by the bail utility. Whether it is pretty nominal and he’s instructed to return to court docket in a month or so, it is a sign the warrant seems worse than it truly may be. If the bail is about excessive — suppose $250,000 or $300,000 and even increased — it is a sign this case is as dangerous because it seems and there’s higher urgency to lock up Baker proper now.
Kirby Good, the Georgia head coach, not too long ago informed The Put up, “I like DeAndre,’’ however he did admit Baker is just not lower from the identical fabric as one other former Bulldogs participant, Andrew Thomas, the offensive deal with the Giants chosen with the No. four choose on this yr’s draft.
“DeAndre comes from just a little harder background,’’ Good stated. “He’s from Miami, he grew up down there and he by no means needed to be within the limelight, he didn’t get pleasure from doing the interviews. Andrew in all probability enjoys it just a little extra. They’re totally different children.’’