Joel Baker Pleads No Contest to 1 of 3 Charges

TYLER – There will be no trial for former Smith County Judge Joel Baker. He has pleaded no contest to one of the three charges against him. In a plea deal, Baker pleaded no contest to one count of violating the state’s open meetings act. The other two counts will be dismissed. Baker has been fined $200 and will serve 30 days of deferred adjudication. The case stems from several executive session in 2014 in which the commissioners discussed the purchase of traffic cameras for county school zones. After community opposition to the program surfaced, the program was shelved.

After being indicted in the case, Baker pleaded not guilty. He resigned his office three months ago. The prosecution of Baker was handled by a prosecutor from the Texas Attorney general’s office. Smith County District Attorney Matt Bingham recused himself from the case last year.