August 12, 2025
FROM STEUBEN COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY BROOKS BAKER:
Bath, NY: Justin J. Baker, 25 and Caitlin M. Taft, 29 both of Elmira were brought before Steuben County Court Judge Mathew K. McCarthy this afternoon for arraignment on warrants stemming from sealed Indictments handed up against them by the Steuben County Jury on August 7, 2025 addressing alleged child abuse by the pair.
The 17 Count Indictment alleges 8 Counts of Assault in the Second Degree, alleging that the Defendants either individually or aiding and being aided by each other being 18 years of age or more intentionally caused physical injury to a child less than 4 years of age. Each of these Counts is a Class D violent felony.
The Indictment also charges both with Enterprise Corruption, a class B felony, alleging Defendants together knowingly engaged in a pattern of criminal conduct as part of a criminal enterprise aimed at abusing and filming the abuse of the child assaulted.
The Defendant’s are also charged with 6 Counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, each a class A misdemeanor for knowingly acting in a manner likely to be injurious to the physical, mental or moral welfare to two children less than the age of 17.
Caitlin Taft is individually charged with Intimidating a Witness In the Third Degree, a class E felony; Criminal Obstruction of Breathing, a class A misdemeanor; and, Criminal Solicitation in the Fourth Degree, also a class A misdemeanor.
All charges are based upon events occurring in the Village of Bath between mid-July and September of 2024 and are the product of a lengthy investigation by the Elmira City Police Department, the New York State Police and Investigators from the Steuben County District Attorney’s Office. Baker is currently facing similar charges in Chemung County. The Court issued orders of protection in favor of all Victims and Witnesses and both Defendants were remanded to Steuben County Without Bail pending further proceedings.
