Baines pleads guilty to 2019 triple murders

Arnett B. Baines, the Owensboro man who has been awaiting trial on three counts of murder in connection with a 2019 triple homicide on Audubon Avenue, pleaded guilty to charges Tuesday in Daviess Circuit Court.

Daviess Circuit Judge Tom Castlen sentenced Baines, 36, of the 0-100 block of Dixiana Court, to life in prison on the three murder charges Tuesday afternoon.

Baines, who was facing the possibility of the death penalty in the Jan. 17, 2019 slayings of Jay Michael Sowders, Christopher Carie and Robert D. Smith, pleaded guilty to the three murder charges after the cases was mediated earlier in the day by retired Circuit Judge Phillip Patton.

Baines was scheduled to go to trial in August.

Baines shot Sowders, Smith and Carie each in the head. Baines also pleaded guilty to first-degree assault, for also shooting Carmen Vanegas in the head during the incident.

Vanegas survived the incident.

The plea agreement Baines signed calls for him to serve life in prison on the murder charges.

As part of the agreement, Baines will become eligible for parole after serving 25 years in prison.

The assault charge, as well as charges of tampering with evidence, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon and torture of dog, will all run concurrently with the life sentence. The torture charge stems from Baines fatally shooting a dog during the incident.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Mike Van Meter told Castlen the plea agreement also called for two other pending criminal cases against Baines to be dismissed.

Baines was facing charges in those cases of third-degree assault on a corrections officer and receiving stolen property (firearm).

Van Meter said members of the Carie, Sowders and Smith families approved of the plea agreement.

Baines said little during the sentencing beyond answering Castlen’s questions, usually with a “yes” or “guilty.”

“Are you pleading guilty because, in fact, you are guilty?” Castlen asked.

“Yes, sir,” Baines said. Baines admitted to shooting the three men and Vanegas, and to the other charges.

Baines has been in the Daviess County Detention Center since Jan. 18, 2019, and the time spent in jail will be credited toward his sentence.

Although Castlen sentenced Baines to prison Tuesday, a hearing will be held on May 23, where Vanegas and members of the Sowders, Smiths and Caries families will testify about the impact of the shootings.

While Baines’ case is resolved, Baines’ co-defendant, Cylar L. Shemwell, 37, is also facing the possibility of the death penalty on charges of murder.

Shemwell, of the 1600 block of Wisteria Gardens, is scheduled for trial in June, but his case is scheduled to be mediated next week.

Van Meter and Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Nick Kafer said they could not comment on Baines’ plea agreement, citing the reason as the pending Shemwell’s case.

Both men are being held in the county detention center. Baines will be transferred to a state prison after the May 23 hearing.