The case against the man being held in the February assault on former Yachats resident Martin Baker is proceeding through the San Diego County legal system.
Baker, a formerly homeless man who found shelter and friendship through the Yachats Community Presbyterian Church, died a few days after the attack, which occurred in Borrego Springs, Calif.
Baker had left Yachats in 2020 to return to his California hometown, a small desert community northeast of San Diego.
The suspect, Eugene Focarelli, 37, was arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon. He was later released after posting $30,000 bail. On Feb. 23, the day after Baker died, San Diego police rearrested Focarelli and set bail at $110,000. According to the Borrego Sun newspaper, “Focarelli has had multiple previous run-ins with the law.”
Since then, Focarelli has been held at the San Diego Central Jail; bail is now $200,200.
The San Diego Superior Court website says that a criminal charge was filed against Focarelli on April 29 by the San Diego District Attorney’s office. An office spokeswoman told Yachats News that Focarelli is scheduled for a preliminary hearing June 16.
“This is where the facts and evidence will be discussed and a judge will determine whether he should stand trial,” she said. “He is charged with cruelty to an elder.”
According to a county source with knowledge of the case, that charge is “sort of like hate crime legislation for seniors and people with disabilities. It allows the DA to seek a higher penalty.”
Baker, who would have turned 50 this year, had a history of mental health issues.