June 08--HOPEWELL -- A former Hopewell police officer was convicted of sexually abusing three women he had been investigating last year. Mark D. Baggett, 34, of Colonial Heights, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to three counts of aggravated sexual battery. He had been with the department since 2008.
Hopewell Police Chief John Keohane said that Hopewell police began investigating Baggett after one of his victims filed a complaint. "We were able to substantiate her complaints and we had the officer suspended within 48 hours," Keohane said.
Keohane said that police also conducted a check of Baggett's case arrests and found two further cases "that looked suspicious." Keohane then turned the investigation over to Virginia State Police, adding that he applauded the first victim for reporting her case. "She turned in a dirty cop," he said.
Baggett was arrested in January and resigned from his duties as police officer.
Chesterfield County Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney M. Duncan Minton Jr., who was appointed special prosecutor for this case, said Baggett used his position as a law enforcement officer to elicit sex, or attempt to elicit sex from the women. "He arrested them on charges of DUI or petty crimes," Minton said yesterday.
Hopewell Circuit Judge Samuel E. Campbell set sentencing for Sept. 12. Minton said that in court, Baggett entered Alford pleas, in which the defendant does not admit the act, but admits that sufficient evidence exists with which the prosecution could likely convince a judge or jury to find the defendant guilty.
In exchange for the pleas, prosecutors dropped a fourth charge of forcible sodomy. Baggett now faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for each of the counts.
Keohane said he is glad to have Baggett off the street. "We take the oath to serve and protect very seriously and hold it to the highest regard," he said. "This fella has no place in our or any police department. He's a criminal," Keohane said.
- Markus Schmidt may be reached at 804-722-5172 or [email protected].
Copyright 2012 - The Progress-Index, Petersburg, Va.
