Indiana man gets 7 years for attacking woman with machete

NEW ALBANY, Ind. (AP) - A southern Indiana man has been sentenced to seven years in prison for attacking a woman in 2020 with a machete, leaving her with numerous wounds.

Ronald G. Baker, 49, had pleaded guilty to a felony charge of aggravated battery in the attack. A Floyd County judge sentenced Baker last week to seven years in prison followed by five years on supervised probation.

The New Albany man must also complete a domestic violence awareness class and have no contact with his victim, the News and Tribune reported.

According to court documents, a neighbor called 911 in August 2020 to report that a woman had run to the neighbor's home seeking help and was covered in blood from cuts to her head and arm.

The victim told police she and Baker, her then-boyfriend, were arguing when he grabbed a machete and began cutting her and punching her, and had attacked her over a two-hour period. The victim said Baker repeatedly cut her and told her to get into the shower to wash the blood off.

The woman eventually fled, fearing for her life, and sought medical care for her wounds.