By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Greenwood Cemetery owner John Baker pleaded not guilty yesterday to a multitude of charges related to him not staying away from the cemetery while under a court order that is set to expire the end of this month, the latest of which involved him allegedly hiding in the bushes trying to make sure photos were taken when temporary caretaker Jennifer Duncan was served with papers.
[1]John Baker
Centralia police were called late last week when Duncan said she was working in the memorial park north of Reynolds Road and spotted the 68-year-old about 200 feet away from her in the brush.
An anti-harassment protection order prevents Baker from being within 500 feet of Duncan or on the cemetery property until Sept. 30.
According to charging documents, a man and a woman came to give her paperwork revoking her power of attorney over Baker, and Duncan ripped up the paper, told them to leave her alone and walked away. Then she saw Baker, who was directing the woman to take pictures of her, according to Duncan.
She told police she already had a copy of the letter and felt he was just harassing her, according to charging documents.
Baker was subsequently arrested at the Chevron station on Harrison Avenue, for violation of a protection order.
The Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office however charged Baker with stalking for that incident, plus five counts of violating the anti-harassment protection order in connection with previous episodes going back to the beginning of July.
Baker’s bail was set on Monday at $50,000.
Baker and Duncan, longtime friends, were in court last month and partially resolved a dispute that grew out of an agreement she would operate the cemetery last year while Baker was incarcerated for assault.
After Baker was released, relations between the two deteriorated but she still had the power of attorney and held the license to operate the cemetery.
Duncan told Lewis County Superior Court Commissioner Tracy Mitchell late last month if she couldn’t get a permanent order banning Baker from the property, she would walk away from care-taking of the cemetery.
The commissioner extended the order just long enough for Duncan to wrap up obligations she’s made to cemetery clients and ordered Baker to file a formal revocation of the power of attorney.
One of the seven current charges against Baker is trespassing, as on Sept. 14, he was found inside his home – adjacent to the cemetery – which now has no electricity and is unfit for habitation, according to charging documents.
He said he had nowhere else to sleep.
Baker’s trial was set for the week of Oct. 31.
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For background, read “Conflict: Who will bury the dead in Greenwood Cemetery?” from Friday Sept. 2, 2011, here [2]