SMETHPORT — A Westfield man convicted of raping an infant was sentenced in McKean County Court to 15 to 30 years in state prison.

Steven Paul Baker, 26, was convicted at jury trial Nov. 22 on charges of rape of a child, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, statutory sexual assault, indecent assault, and another charge of a sexual nature.

District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer said in addition to the prison sentence, Baker received three years of consecutive supervision and other terms. He is not eligible for early parole.

According to the criminal complaint in the case, a juvenile had disclosed during preschool that Baker had indecent contact with her. In 2023, Baker spoke to Coudersport-based state police and said he “made a mistake about four years ago” when the juvenile was an infant of two to four months old and living in Port Allegany.

The reports initiated a police investigation by state police who interviewed Baker. After initially denying the allegation, Baker admitted that, while the child was only months old and left in his care, he had sexual contact with her. He told investigators he did this out of sexual frustration and anger at a video game he had been playing.

Shaffer said, “The Pennsylvania legislators draft the sentencing codes and enhancements that apply in any given case. For the crime of rape of a child, the legislators have provided for an enhancement of 10 years. The District Attorney’s office sought the enhanced sentence allowed and the judge imposed that sentence. The additional 5 years reflects the sentence for the other counts which do not allow an enhancement.”

Baker is required to register as a sex offender for his lifetime. If you suspect Child Abuse, please call 911 and Childline at (800) 932-0313.