Rogers Man Sentenced To 80 Years In Prison

— While thousands of peopled voted Tuesday, 12 people performed another civic duty as part of a jury that heard a criminal case in Circuit Judge Robin Green’s courtroom.

Fabian Antonio Baca, 52, of Rogers was charged as a habitual offender with residential burglary and possession of firearms by certain person, Class B felonies. He also was charged with theft of property and first offense driving while intoxicated, both misdemeanors.

At A Glance

Parole Eligibility

Fabian Antonio Baca of Rogers will have to serve at least 13 years of his 80-year sentence before he will be eligible for parole.

Source: Staff Report

Baca was arrested Dec. 2, 2011. According to court documents, he was on parole from the Department of Correction.

Cpl. Diane Spain with the Benton County Sheriff’s Office responded Dec. 2 to a call concerning a car crash on Old Highway 68, according court documents.

Spain came upon a wrecked vehicle and found a bottle of whiskey, two large suitcases, a rifle, a laptop, a video camera and a bag containing miscellaneous jewelry inside the vehicle, according to court documents.

The driver was not at the scene, and Spain was told the man had fled on foot, according to court documents.

Arkansas State Trooper Jessie Woodham later apprehended Baca. Woodham found jewelry on the ground where he made contact with Baca, according to court documents.

Sue Stagger identified the jewelry as items stolen from her home before the crash, according to court documents.

The jury found Baca guilty and recommended 40 years for each felony.

Green ordered Baca’s sentences be served consecutively — an 80-year sentence. He was given a year in jail for the misdemeanors. That time will run concurrently to the prison sentence.

Baca didn’t agree with the sentence.

“I'd just like to say that I'm sorry to everybody, that I know I need help, but giving me this much time is not going to help, it’s just going to make things worse,” Baca said to the court. “I need treatment, and you can’t get treatment with 80 years in the Department of Corrections, but that’s the way it goes. Sorry.”

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