SPARTANBURG, South Carolina – A federal grand jury has indicted Rodney Juan Baker, 56, of Spartanburg, for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 922(g)(9). This case was investigated by the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
According to the indictment, Baker, a resident of Spartanburg, is accused of possessing a firearm despite being a prohibited person. The charges stem from an investigation conducted by the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
Each of these cases is a direct result of “Home Front”, a focused deterrence-based initiative to combat domestic violence led by 7th Circuit Solicitor Barry Barnette. The initiative launched in December of 2016 and has the support and partnership of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The Home Front initiative exposes repeat domestic violence offenders to sanctions due to their pattern of criminal behavior. According to the 2015 Violence Policy Center When Men Murder Women report, South Carolina led the nation in rates of women murdered by men. Sixty-six percent (66%) of the victims were killed with a firearm and ninety-six percent (96%) of women murdered were killed by someone they knew.
In Spartanburg County during the 2015 calendar year, SAFE Homes serviced 6726 victims of domestic violence. In the same time frame, the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms investigated several cases of domestic violence.
The federal indictment against Rodney Juan Baker is a significant step towards combating domestic violence in Spartanburg County. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Wells, who is a 7th Circuit Assistant Solicitor specially designated by the United States Attorney’s Office to handle cases from the Seventh Circuit.
Defendant: Rodney Juan Baker
Criminal Charges: Possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 922(g)(9)
City and State: Spartanburg, South Carolina
Exact Date: February [date not provided], 2024
Sentence or Outcome: Currently pending
Related Federal Cases
- Yashawnus Leekean Patterson, Gun Possession as Felon, South Carolina 2023 · Colorado
- Jonathan Felkel, Racist Threat and Gunfire, South Carolina 2025 · South Carolina
- Jonathan Andrew Felkel, Shooting with Racial Bias, South Carolina 2019 · Washington
- Jonathan Felkel, Intimidation Based on Race, South Carolina 2023 · South Carolina
- Jonathan Felkel, Terrorizing with Gun, South Carolina 2025 · South Carolina
Key Facts
- State: South Carolina
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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