SACRAMENTO, CA - A former Sacramento police officer
accused of raping a now 78-year-old woman was back in court Wednesday.
Gary Baker, 41, is facing 12 felony counts, including
rape and sexual battery, on a woman who suffered from a stroke in 2009.
The stroke affected the woman's speech and she was
diagnosed with aphasia, a disorder that speech, reading and writing.
The victim took the stand earlier this month, but
Sacramento Superior Court Judge Cheryl Chun Meegan said her testimony was
difficult to understand due to her medical condition.
Wednesday, Baker's attorney Linda Parisi and Deputy
District Attorney Amy Holliday agreed to work together to appoint an expert
neurologist or speech pathologist to assist the victim.
"I think the question for the expert at this point
is to answer those competency questions - whether or not the witness can
understand and has the cognitive skills to understand the questions - whether
they can answer those, whether or not they can communicate intelligently, and then
whether or not they can appreciate the obligation to tell the truth,"
Parisi said.
According to the criminal complaint, Baker allegedly
raped the woman on two different occasions and attempted to sexually assault
her a third time. The alleged crimes were committed from November 2010 to
December 2012.
Baker is free on $1 million bail.. His next court
appearance was set for May 31 at 10:30 a.m.