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SALT LAKE CITY — A Springville man who was charged in June with aggravated murder was sentenced to serve five years to life in prison on Wednesday.
Joshua Baer, 19, was sentenced in Millard County’s 4th District Court to serve up to life in prison for shooting a woman in the head in June. The woman survived.
After the shooting, Baer was charged with attempted aggravated murder, a first-degree felony; possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, a second-degree felony; theft by receiving stolen property, a second-degree felony; and obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony.
Early in the morning on June 20, Millard County Sheriff’s deputies responded to reports of gunfire in Delta on 100 North near the 300 West block, charging documents stated.
A woman had been shot in the head but the injury wasn’t serious and she was released from the hospital later that day, officials said.
The woman’s husband told authorities that the gunman, later identified as Baer, appeared to be the same man the husband had an argument with hours earlier.
According to court documents, Baer will serve at least five years in Utah State Prison but could serve up to life for the attempted aggravated murder conviction.
Baer was also sentenced to serve at least three years for the remaining felony convictions and a maximum of 15 years.
His sentences were ordered to be served concurrently, court documents show.
Baer initially pleaded not guilty on Sept. 10 and his trial was scheduled for early December. Baer then entered a guilty plea on Nov. 14.
Additionally, prosecutors will determine a restitution order within one year, court documents stated.
In a statement posted on Facebook, the Millard County Sheriff’s Office said officials are grateful to those who helped the investigation.
“As we committed from the beginning, this violent and unprecedented act upon a small community received our priority focus,” the post read. “The solution comes not only through our efforts but by way of critical intelligence offered up by citizens and informants. Coupled with state of the art laboratory resources, these efforts lead to a relatively quick adjudication of a very serious crime.”
