Probation officer charged with sexual battery by an authority figure for groping DUI offender

77 year old William Baker, a Maury County, TN probation officer, is in jail charged with groping one of his clients twice during a routine visit.

As a probation officer, Baker handled misdemeanor cases for years. About two weeks ago, Maury County Sheriff's detectives received a complaint from a woman who claimed her probation officer groped her during a meeting.

The woman said that she was at Baker’s mercy because because “he holds our fate in his hands. Basically we're probationaries and all he could do with a phone call is can mess up our entire life."
In an exclusive interview with NewsChannel 5, she said Baker abused his power to sexually assault her. She said he touched her in the upper torso area.

During the interview she started to cry. She said her experience also made her mad, mad enough to go to the sheriff's office. Detectives said she bravely agreed to go back to Baker with a hidden camera. This meant facing more of the alleged abuse.

"He did the exact same thing he had done the Monday before," she said. "I wasn't going to let this guy continue doing this to me. I'm sorry.

The woman agreed to wear a wire and meet with Baker again, when she was allegedly groped a second time – this time, on tape. After a grand jury review, Maury County prosecutors indicted Baker on a sexual assault and a sexual battery by an authority figure charge.

Baker said that he did not touch the woman intentionally. "I gave her a cup and my hand was up and when I turned around she was right there. My hand fell on her and that's it," he said.

Baker said the complaint is a misunderstanding. "No, I have been there for all these years, and I haven't done it," he said.

When asked if he thought the complainant was lying, he said, ‘No, I tried to help her, to keep her from losing her job and going to jail."

Baker was booked into the Maury County jail on a $20,000 bond. He will answer to the charges against him on Thursday.

Maury County investigators believe there are more victims out there, and want any potential victims to call the Maury County Sheriff’s Office. The victim believes that the call for additional victims is necessary.

"He touches women inappropriately and I am not the only one. Surely to goodness, there will be others that come forward."