BATH — Members of the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation in Bath were contacted by Steuben County District Attorney Brooks Baker on July 31 to assist in an investigation into suspected child abuse of a victim under the age of four that was believed to have occurred on William Street in the village of Bath.
Investigators met with District Attorney Baker, who provided video evidence obtained from the Chemung County District Attorney’s Office.
The videos were originally recovered by the Elmira Police Department during an ongoing child abuse investigation in the city of Elmira.
EPD had previously charged Justin J. Baker, age 24, of Elmira, New York, in connection with incidents within their jurisdiction.
During their investigation, additional videos were located that appeared to depict criminal acts occurring in the Village of Bath.
Justin J. Baker, age 24, of Elmira, New York, was arrested on Aug. 8 in the town of Bath and charged with enterprise corruption, seven counts of second-degree assault involving a person 18 years or older causing injury to a person under 7 years old, five counts of endangering the welfare of a child and criminal solicitation in the fourth degree.
Caitlin Marie Taft, age 27, of Montour Falls, New York, was arrested on Aug. 11 in the village of Bath and charged with enterprise corruption, eight counts of second-degree assault involving a person 18 years or older causing injury to a person under 7 years old, third-degree intimidating a victim or witness, five counts of endangering the welfare of a child, fourth-degree criminal solicitation and criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation.
Both defendants were arraigned in Steuben County Court and remanded to the Steuben County Jail without bail.
The investigation remains ongoing in coordination with the Elmira Police Department, Chemung County District Attorney’s Office, and Steuben County District Attorney’s Office.
