Parole has been denied for a Salesville man, 53-year-old Johnnie Carl Baker, who was convicted of manslaughter in 2013 in the shooting death of 65-year-old Dennis Franklin Chapman, also of Salesville.
Baker was sentenced to 10 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction, after entering a guilty plea to a reduced charge of manslaughter, with an additional four years imposed by the court for committing a felony with a firearm. The sentences are running consecutively – meaning Baker was given total prison time of 14 years on the charges. The Salesville man was originally charged with murder in the second degree.
The incident was initially reported to Baxter County 911 in November 2012 when a female caller stated a man had been shot accidentally at a residence located at 29 Major Street in Norfork.
An intensive investigation was launched, and Baker was developed as the prime suspect in the shooting. He told officers a number of conflicting stories regarding the incident. His basic contention was the shooting was accidental, and he had thrown a Pepsi bottle to Chapman, whom Baker described as his best friend, and told him he was going to shoot the bottle Chapman was then holding in his hand.
Baker also told investigators at one point the gun had discharged on its own, and he did not recall having his finger on the trigger. Investigative reports indicate Chapman was shot in the face with a 30/30 lever action rifle, which is of a type and manufacture that must be manually manipulated in order for it to fire.
While Baker originally faced a second-degree murder charge, former 14th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Ron Kincade said evidence developed during the investigation tended to show the lesser charge of manslaughter was more appropriate, given the totality of the circumstances surrounding the crime.
Most of the argument between state and defense attorneys dealt with the extra prison time imposed because of the use of a firearm in commission of the crime. Public defenders Andrew Bailey and Paul Bayless represented Baker, and they argued the shooting, while reckless, was an accident and did not deserve the enhancing penalty and extra prison time.
After several minutes of give and take between the lawyers, Judge Putman put Baker under oath and asked him to relate the events leading to the shooting. An emotional Baker gave a somewhat confused story about cleaning the gun with his shirt and the firearm discharging. He said twice he had no intention of “killing the man and did not know how the gun went off”.
Kincade said firearms were designed to cause injury and the victim had the top of his head blown off. He told Judge Putman the firearms enhancement penalty definitely applied in this case. After hearing from all sides, including the defendant, the judge agreed that the extra prison time was justified.
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