Man who helped leave Jimmie Baker for dead in kiddie pool pleads guilty
MANITOU SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- The man who helped a murder suspect drag a Manitou Springs resident into a kiddie pool after a brutal beating last May pled guilty Thursday to accessory to crime and second-degree assault.
The 4th Judicial District Attorney's Office announced that John Robert Swinehart entered the guilty plea and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 13 for his role in the death of Jimmie Baker.
In the early morning hours of May 9, Baker was left for dead in a kiddie pool while it snowed in Manitou Springs. Police found him in the morning, but Baker died that afternoon in the hospital.
Baker's death was the first murder in nearly six years for the small community of Manitou Springs. Police began investigating and arrested Freddie Crespo and Swinehart.
According to an arrest affidavit, a witness told police that Crespo was beating Baker in the yard and then threw him into the pool.
Police interviewed Crespo, and he initially said he had no idea what happened and suggested that Baker was drunk. Eventually, he took more responsibility and claimed that he “dragged” Baker outside of the apartment on Manitou Ave. because Baker had allegedly assaulted Crespo’s girlfriend.
Police later interviewed Crespo’s girlfriend, and she said she “did not feel as if she had been assaulted at all.”
Crespo again denied striking Baker, only telling police that he threw him into the pool and then went back inside to go to sleep. The police officer asked to see Crespo’s hands, and noted that they were bruised and swollen. Coincidentally, the same officer had an interaction with Crespo earlier that same night, and Crespo alleged that he was attacked in downtown Manitou Springs. The officer noted at that time that Crespo’s hands weren’t swollen then.
Swinehart was also interviewed by police, and he admitted to helping Crespo drag Baker’s body into the pool after Crespo severely beat him. Swinehart said he and Crespo were in the home when Crespo’s girlfriend allegedly said Baker tried to rape her. That’s when Crespo “went into the other room, grabbed Baker by his legs, and drug him outside,” according to the affidavit.
Outside, Crespo hit Baker in the face, stomped on his chest, and kicked him in the chest. Crespo then told Swinehart to help him move Baker’s body and said he was going to “end Mr. Baker,” according to the affidavit.
Crespo told Swinehart, “Help me. Don’t be a b****,” according to the court document. Swinehart said he didn’t like to be called that, so he helped Crespo move Baker’s body.
Crespo and Swinehart went back inside the house and went to sleep, according to the affidavit. Baker’s body was left outside while snow flurried around him and temperatures dropped to the mid-30s.
Crespo was last in court on Wednesday and is scheduled for another status hearing on Jan. 27. He pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder after deliberation.
