FILE - This Sunday, May 30, 2021 booking photograph released by the Laurel County, Ky., Correctional Center shows, Patrick Baker. Baker, a convicted slayer whose household had governmental connections to erstwhile Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin, is backmost connected proceedings for the 2014 sidesplitting that Bevin had pardoned him for soon earlier leaving office. Baker present faces caller national charges successful transportation to Donald Mills' death, arsenic authorities pointed to the dual sovereignty doctrine, which allows authorities and national officials to prosecute the aforesaid suspect for the aforesaid actions without infringing connected treble jeopardy protections. (Laurel County Correctional Center via AP, File)

FILE - This Sunday, May 30, 2021 booking photograph released by the Laurel County, Ky., Correctional Center shows, Patrick Baker. Baker, a convicted slayer whose household had governmental connections to erstwhile Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin, is backmost connected proceedings for the 2014 sidesplitting that Bevin had pardoned him for soon earlier leaving office. Baker present faces caller national charges successful transportation to Donald Mills' death, arsenic authorities pointed to the dual sovereignty doctrine, which allows authorities and national officials to prosecute the aforesaid suspect for the aforesaid actions without infringing connected treble jeopardy protections. (Laurel County Correctional Center via AP, File)

LONDON, Ky. – A antheral pardoned by Kentucky's erstwhile politician for a 2014 cause robbery sidesplitting has been convicted for the aforesaid slaying successful national tribunal aft a two-week trial.

Federal prosecutors brought charges against Patrick Baker aft helium was released from situation erstwhile erstwhile Gov. Matt Bevin pardoned him connected his mode retired of bureau successful 2019. Baker's household had governmental connections to Bevin, including hosting a fundraiser for the one-term governor.

A national assemblage successful eastbound Kentucky convicted Baker Wednesday connected a complaint of execution committed during a cause trafficking transgression aft astir six hours of deliberation implicit 2 days.

U.S. District Judge Claria Horn Boom volition condemnation Baker, 43, connected Dec. 21. Prosecutors declined to question the decease penalty, but Baker could service beingness successful situation connected the conviction.

"At its core, this lawsuit was astir 1 thing: Patrick Baker’s relation successful the decease of Donald Mills," Carlton Shier, the acting U.S. Attorney for eastbound Kentucky, said successful a quality merchandise Wednesday. “Having heard the evidence, the assemblage recovered him guilty.”

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Baker was convicted of reckless homicide successful Donald Mills’ decease successful authorities tribunal successful 2017. He was sentenced to 19 years successful prison, but Bevin's pardon released him and erased the conviction. Bevin called the grounds against Baker “sketchy,” though the erstwhile politician did not notation his ties to Baker's family.

Federal prosecutors said Baker was prosecuted the 2nd clip nether the “dual sovereignty doctrine,” which allows authorities and national officials to prosecute the aforesaid suspect for the aforesaid actions without infringing connected treble jeopardy protections.

Baker’s lawyer, Louisville lawyer Steve Romines, said helium would appeal.

“We felt determination was grounds that should person been admitted that was not,” helium told the Courier Journal.

Prosecutors said Baker killed Mills, a cause trader successful Knox County, successful 2014 portion trying to rob Mills of currency and symptom pills. Baker posed arsenic a U.S. Marshal during the crime.

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Mills’ large woman and children were held astatine gunpoint portion Baker ransacked the victims’ location for oxycodone pills, according to the U.S. Attorney. Evidence astatine the proceedings including ammunition casings tied to Baker's pistol and surveillance video showing Baker buying handcuff restraints hours earlier the killing.

Baker's merchandise was 1 of a slew of pardons by Bevin astatine the extremity of his word that drew rebuke from some Democrats and Republicans.

Baker’s pardon was particularly controversial, since his household had held a fundraiser for Bevin the twelvemonth before, raising $21,500 for the Republican’s unsuccessful reelection campaign.

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