Charges consolidated, judgment withheld in SIU football player's case | News

PANAMA CITY, FL (KFVS)- Charges against a freshman football player at Southern Illinois University arrested in Florida for allegedly assaulting a woman during his Spring break at Panama City Beach have been consolidated and a judge withheld judgment.

The charges against Ronald Baines were consolidated into one misdemeanor count of indecent exposure, according to the Bay County Court. Baines entered a no contest plea. The judge withheld a judgment. Baines was ordered to pay court costs and fines.

According to the Bay County Sheriff's Department, a female taxi driver says she picked up then 19-year-old Ronald Baines and he asked to be taken to a convenience store to use an ATM in March 2012.

The victim told police that she went in the store to use the restroom and Baines followed her.  Investigators say he fondled the woman and exposed himself to her.

The victim told police she ran back to the taxi and Baines followed her before she could lock the doors and fondled her as she drove away.

The woman called her boyfriend and picked him up before she dropped him off at a street corner.

Staff at the hotel Baines was staying at also complained of acting strangely and allegedly approaching one employee exposing himself, and forcibly fondling her.

Baines was arrested on two counts of each of kidnapping, attempted sexual battery, and exposure of sexual organs. Those charges were consolidated into one misdemeanor count of indecent exposure which the judge withheld judgment.

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