Hernando County, FL – A registered sexual offender from Spring Hill has been sentenced to five years in state prison for failing to comply with Florida’s sex offender reporting laws, according to the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities said Kent Douglas Baker, 57, was adjudicated guilty on Nov. 6, 2025, for multiple reporting violations. Baker will be transferred from the Hernando County Detention Center to the Florida Department of Corrections to serve his sentence.
According to investigators, the violations stemmed from Baker’s Oct. 3, 2024, arrest after he allegedly failed to report several required updates — including changes to his employment, vehicle information, and online identifiers. Detectives also said Baker knowingly provided false registration details during a September 2024 compliance check.
Records show Baker was previously convicted in 2014 in Wayne County, West Virginia, for battery on a minor victim with sexual motivation, which requires lifetime registration as a sexual offender in Florida.
Detectives discovered the recent violations after learning Baker had been terminated from his job at a McDonald’s on Commercial Way but continued to list the restaurant as his employer. He was also reportedly using unauthorized social media accounts and failed to report additional vehicles associated with his residence.
Residents with information related to this case are urged to contact Hernando County Crime Stoppers at 1-866-990-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip at hernandocountycrimestoppers.com.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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