| For Immediate Release Case # 11ZF0104
February 10, 2011 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
MAN INDICTED FOR STABBING AND MURDERING ONE AND INJURING ANOTHER AFTER NEW YEAR’S EVE HOTEL PARTY
SANTA ANA – A man was indicted today for murdering one man and injuring his friend by stabbing the victims after a New Year’s Eve hotel party. Adam Randy Baker, 23, Dana Point, was indicted by the Orange County Grand Jury on one felony count of murder, one felony count of attempted murder, and a sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a deadly weapon. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 23 years to life in state prison. Baker is out of custody on $1 million bail and is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment Feb. 28, 2011, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-5, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office released a press release on Jan. 4, 2011, with the following information:
At approximately 2:00 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2011, Baker is accused of sitting on a bench near the valet parking area at the Hilton Hotel in Costa Mesa after attending a New Year’s Eve party at the hotel. When a group of men exited the hotel, Baker is accused of flicking his cigarette at them and starting a verbal argument with 27-year-old Robert Sickles.
The defendant is accused of approaching Sickles and starting a physical fight by pushing the victim. Baker is accused of pulling out a knife, slashing the victim across the chest, and stabbing him one time in the chest. Sickles’ friend, 26-year-old Brian McTeigue, attempted to intervene to protect his friend and Baker is accused of stabbing McTeigue one time in the back.
The victims’ friends became involved in the physical fight to defend Sickles and McTeigue and detained Baker. The Costa Mesa Police Department, who were already at the hotel responding to unrelated disturbances, responded immediately.
Sickles and McTeigue were transported to Western Medical Center, where Sickles was pronounced dead on arrival as a result of his stab wound to the chest. McTeigue was treated for a non-fatal stab wound to the back and was later released. Baker was transported to Mission Hospital to be treated for facial fractures sustained after the stabbing.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Matt Murphy of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.
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