A Parsons man received nearly four years in prison for a reduced charge related to the discovery of marijuana and marijuana products from Colorado in his home.
Johnny L. Baker, 50, 310 N. 27th St., was to be tried in August in Labette County District Court on allegations of distribution of marijuana, a high-level drug felony, a felony drug paraphernalia charge and a misdemeanor paraphernalia charge. He failed to show up and was later arrested. He’s been in the county jail since Aug. 23.
Parsons police arrested Johnny Baker and his son, Matthew, in early August 2019 after serving a search warrant and conducting the search at the house on North 27th Street, which is just east of Parsons Middle School. Drug offenses near school properties elevate the severity of the crimes.
During the search, police found 30 containers of marijuana ready for repackaging and distribution in the house and cars, police said at the time. The initial investigation led investigators to believe that the product was purchased in Colorado — where marijuana and its products are legally sold — and transported into Kansas for distribution after the identifiers were removed.
Johnny Baker pleaded to the lower level felony in the case, use of drug paraphernalia, and the remaining charges were dismissed, as was a 2023 case alleging Baker failed to register as a sex offender as required by the Kansas Offender Registration Act. Baker has a conviction in Crawford County for aggravated indecent liberties with a child that requires registration under KORA.
On Tuesday, Judge Fred W. Johnson sentenced Johnny Baker to 42 months in prison, giving him credit for 285 days served in jail while the case was pending. Once released, Baker will be on parole supervision for a year.
During allocution, when the judge gives a defendant a chance to speak before the sentence is imposed, Baker said he doesn’t plan to return to the county upon his release from prison. He also asked during the hearing if the case against his son had been dismissed, which was a condition of the plea. The online court record doesn’t show that the case was dismissed but the deputy county attorney said he would look into it.
