Photo/Courtesy GCSO: Remington Lewis Baldwin, 29, of Safford was sentenced Monday to 30 years in prison for multiple child sex crimes.
Referred to as a wolf in sheep’s clothing by the victim’s parents
John Johnson
john johnson news@gmail.com
“He really is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. As long as there are sheep in this world to protect, this wolf must be kept in captivity.”
victim’s parents
SAFORD – Remington Lewis Baldwin, 29, of Safford was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Monday after pleading guilty to multiple child molestation charges earlier.
Baldwin appeared before Graham County Superior Court Judge Michael D. Peterson on Monday and was sentenced to 30 years in prison in his plea bargain.
Baldwin was convicted in two separate cases. The first case was the amendment of his four counts of attempted sexual intercourse with a minor. The plea bargain provided for 20 years’ imprisonment followed by probation for sex offenders. The second is 15 child pornographic images unrelated to the alleged molestation. In that case, Baldwin pleaded guilty to his two amended charges of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor and, following his plea bargain, was sentenced to lifelong probation for sex offenders. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison. In total, Baldwin was sentenced to his 30-year prison sentence credited with about a year and three months of imprisonment.
Prior to the sentencing, the victim’s advocate read out a statement submitted to the court by the victim’s parents indicating the seriousness of the crime and pleaded with the court to grant the longest possible sentence. In the letter, the parents describe Baldwin as an “unrepentant predator” who “harmed and abused the people who cared about you the most and trusted you the most.”
“Punishment for your terrible deeds will not repair the destruction you have caused, but I call upon this tribunal to inflict the greatest possible punishment… Mr. Baldwin said, in order to protect society, He is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, and as long as there are sheep in the world to protect, this wolf must be kept locked up.”
Baldwin was initially charged with nine counts of sexual conduct with a minor. When he was first arrested, his bail was set at his $1 million.
On August 7, 2021, he was arrested after a Thatcher police investigation revealed what prosecutors believed was systematic sexual abuse of a child under the age of 15. The abuse is said to have lasted for years.
The victim’s father informed police of the alleged abuse in late July after the victim confided in him. I explained how to bribe him.
After the interview, detectives used the victim’s mobile phone to converse with Baldwin while pretending to be the victim. During these text messages, Baldwin never denied the sexual assault allegations from the victim’s phone, but urged a detective posing as the victim to call him.Baldwin also texted his Sent a text his message to remind the victim to delete the message.
At that point, the victim agreed to call Baldwin and the conversation was recorded.
During the course of the conversation, Baldwin apologized for his “inappropriate” behavior, saying he “never should have done that.”
The call ended with the victim convincing Baldwin to go to the victim’s residence and bring him a soda. Baldwin said he would meet the victim at an old tree stump away from the residence’s doorbell camera, but when Baldwin pulled over in a white 2015 GMC Sierra pickup truck, he was picked up by Thatcher police and the truck was pulled from the scene. was towed.
When detectives removed Baldwin from the truck and took him into custody, there was an unopened soda in the car’s center console, as requested by the victim.
During questioning, Baldwin allegedly admitted to contact, but claimed that it was the victim who instigated it.
Thatcher’s detectives also include one instance in which Baldwin was accused of showering with a toddler, and Joseph City’s report from the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office regarding Baldwin as a suspect in a sexual abuse case. , learned that he was a suspect in two other cases involving children. The case only opened his November 2020 investigation, and the victim ultimately refused to cooperate with criminal charges.
When it comes to sexual things, you can’t prove you didn’t do it, and you can’t actually prove you did. You will believe it.”
Baldwin refused to speak in court during the sentencing.
The victim’s parents wrote in a letter, “You have deceived many people for a long time.” I flaunted it, pardoned or belittled your cruel deeds.”
