MADISON — A Norfolk man who assaulted two people while out on parole for a felony DUI conviction in October was sentenced to additional time behind bars on Thursday in Madison County District Court.
Robert Baker Jr., 46, was sentenced by District Judge James Kube to two years in prison for attempted third-degree assault on a health care worker and third-degree assault on an officer.
Baker, who’d been anticipating an August 2026 release from prison for fifth-offense driving under the influence, won’t be eligible for release now until August 2027.
Shortly after 2 a.m. on Oct. 28, Norfolk police had contact with Baker, who was on parole, in the area of 13th Street and Pasewalk Avenue. Baker was fidgety and was walking rapidly. He told an officer that he had eaten methamphetamine and was attempting to go to the hospital.
Norfolk Rescue also was called to the scene, and Baker was transported to Faith Regional Health Services. An officer rode in the ambulance because of Baker’s behavior.
At the hospital, Baker grabbed a pregnant nurse, pulling on her name badge and ripping it off. Hospital staff subsequently asked Baker to leave.
While Baker was being escorted out of the building, he started sprinting toward a group of nurses. He was restrained by five officers and was prevented from harming any other health care workers, according to Matthew Kiernan, deputy Madison County attorney.
While he was being restrained, Baker attempted to remove a Taser from one officer and tried to take another officer’s firearm. Kiernan said that after Baker failed to grab one officer’s firearm, he pushed the officer over, causing the officer to hit a wall, resulting in significant pain.
In February 2024, Baker was sentenced to three to five years in prison for fifth-offense driving under the influence. His initial parole eligibility wasn’t until August 2025 but, according to Nebraska Department of Corrections records, he was granted “discretionary parole” last August.
His parole was revoked following his October arrest.
Baker disputed facts presented by the state, alleging that he made contact with an officer as his arms flailed while he was being thrown to the ground. Baker said he did not intentionally strike the officer or attempt to take any weapons.
Kiernan said officers made it clear in police reports that Baker had tried to grab one officer’s Taser and another’s service weapon.
“It’s very clear that he wasn’t just flailing about,” Kiernan said.
The prosecutor recommended a six-month sentence for the nurse assault and 18 months for the officer assault. He recommended that the sentences run consecutively to each other because there were two victims.
Megan Hoins, deputy Madison County public defender, said the Oct. 28 incident happened after Baker trusted someone whom he thought was a friend. The friend gave Baker a pill that contained meth, which caused Baker to “not respond well.”
“And so, he did call for law enforcement, he called for medical assistance,” Hoins said. “He did not feel, essentially, the way he described it to me, as really having control over his body, and he was not used to that sensation.”
As Baker described it, Hoins said, his actions toward police and hospital staff were likely perceived differently by others from what he believed had transpired.
“I don't think, in speaking with him, he had any ill will,” Hoins said. “But he's taken accountability for his actions that day in that room, however they were perceived by other individuals. He takes accountability for that.”
The defense attorney asked Kube to consider ordering Baker’s sentence to run at the same time as the sentence he’s now serving.
The judge said he believed there is a substantial likelihood of Baker reoffending and went along with Kiernan’s sentencing recommendation.
Baker also was sentenced to a year of postrelease supervision.
Others appeared on the following:
Terroristic threats, assault by strangulation, third-degree domestic assault
— Christopher J. Forney, 28, 1303 Valli Hi Road, pleaded not guilty to each charge.
Terroristic threats, use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony
— Marcus A. Alex, 26, Madison County Jail, had his bail reduced from $100,000 to $50,000.
Driving under the influence (.15 grams or more) — fourth offense, attempted driving without an ignition interlock device
— John M. Mrsny, 33, Madison County Jail, was denied a request for a personal recognizance bond.
Failure to appear — two counts
— Clifford J. Corn, 42, 109 N. Ninth St., pleaded not guilty to both charges.
Theft by receiving stolen property ($1,500-$4,999), tampering with a witness, driving under the influence
— Christopher Cournoyer, 48, 203 Blaine St., pleaded not guilty to each charge.
Failure to pay child support
— Paul A. Domsch, 58, 200 E. Park Ave., pleaded not guilty.
Terroristic threats, criminal mischief ($0-$500), driving under the influence, disturbing the peace
— Ramon A. Horne, 33, Madison County Jail, pleaded not guilty to each charge.
Theft by unlawful taking ($1,500-$4,999), attempted possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person
— Thomas J. Ingram, 46, Madison County Jail, pleaded guilty to both charges.
Sex offender registration violation
— Christopher M. Phillips, 51, Madison County Jail, pleaded not guilty.
— Russell L. Taylor, 56, 1204 W. Norfolk Ave., Apt. 305, pleaded not guilty.
Possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person
— Trevor R. Pollard, 38, Madison County Jail, pleaded not guilty.
Possession of methamphetamine
— Carlos Rodriguez, 39, 404 S. Second St., pleaded guilty.
Abuse of a vulnerable adult, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, third-degree assault
— Charles J. Simons Jr., 48, Madison County Jail, pleaded not guilty to each charge.
Possession of methamphetamine, failure to appear
— Chad L. Schwank, 45, Madison County Jail, had total bail in his two cases set at $65,000 after recently being arrested on a warrant.
