Bithlo man gets 15 years in fatal 2015 beating
Earl Baggs’ criminal record shows he beat and robbed a man in 2014. The mother of Baggs’ children accused him of abusing her during their 10-year-relationship.
Now, Baggs is headed to prison for his role in the fatal beating of Daniel Chapman, 53, behind a convenience store in 2015.
Orange-Osceola County Judge Mark Blechman, who sentenced him Tuesday, implored him to change his life after he’s served his 15-year-sentence. “You have the opportunity to do good things, or ... continue to harm other people and society and ultimately yourself,” the judge said. “The decision is yours.”
Baggs, 34, pleaded guilty to charges of manslaughter and tampering with a witness. He also was ordered to serve 10 years’ probation on the tampering charge after his prison term as part of a plea deal. “I wish I could take it back,” he told Blechman.
Lawyers said Baggs’ girlfriend, Heather Johnston, 33, was more culpable. She pleaded guilty to seconddegree murder and was sentenced in August to the maximum 30 years in prison.
Chapman’s sister, Donna Reed, told the judge her family disagreed with Baggs’ sentence. “Earl and Heather ... worked as a team, and without each other, this crime would not have happened,” she said. “Earl is equally responsible, so he should be equally punished.”
Baggs got a deal offer because he was willing to cooperate with prosecutors and testify against Johnston, said Eryka Washington, spokeswoman for the state attorney’s office for the Ninth Judicial Circuit.
“A human being is dead, and his death is a result of your actions ... so this is a very lenient but understandable resolution in this case,” Blechman said.