Forbestown man reportedly beaten, tied up at park

A Forbestown man has been arrested on attempted murder and kidnapping charges after another man was found beaten and tied up at a park in the foothills town, according to the Butte County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies found Rigoberto Lopez, 37, at about 5 a.m. Thursday at the Forbestown Community Center, 19100 New York Flat Road, and he was flown to Enloe Medical Center in Chico.

Contacted Friday, the hospital said it was no longer authorized to release condition information on Lopez. The Sheriff's Department initially said Lopez was in critical condition.

The Sheriff's Department questioned and later arrested Joseph Paul Baker, 25, in the attack.

Baker was booked into the Butte County Jail and bail was set at $1.05 million.

A search of Butte County Superior Court records showed Baker was convicted Feb. 3 of misdemeanor assault and battery and sentenced to 30 days in jail. He was also arraigned July 8 on misdemeanor petty theft. A pretrial conference was scheduled for next week in that case.

However, a man reached at the Forbestown Store who requested to remain anonymous said a lot of townsfolk supported Baker. He said a defense fund had been set up for Baker and that "everyone in town likes Joe."

A commenter on the Appeal-Democrat Web site with the username "minerswife" also supported Baker.

"It is a sad deal that it had to come to this, but when the law can't or won't help, what else can a community do? Joe is not a bad guy, just made a bad decision," the person posted.

The sheriff's office didn't return a call for comment.

Internet Managing Editor Steve Nelson can be reached at 749-4782 or at snelson@appealdemocrat.com.