Man admits to robbing store, running over woman

A Kalispell man has admitted to robbing a store and running over a woman in an attempt to flee the scene in a October 2016 incident.

Charged with one count of robbery, Martin Gregory Baker, 40, pleaded guilty May 18 in accordance with a plea agreement with the state before Flathead District Court Judge Heidi Ulbricht.

Ulbricht convicted Baker after he admitted to attempting to steal an electric drill from Murdochs and fleeing to his vehicle. Once in he got to his vehicle, court documents state that a female employee was behind the vehicle attempting to get his license plate number when he shifted into reverse and struck her, driving over her legs.

A group of employees then managed to pull Baker out of the vehicle and held him on the ground until authorities arrived.

Baker was sentenced to five years with the Department of Corrections with a recommendation that he be screened for placement in the Connections Corrections treatment program. Baker got an additional six months in the Flathead County Detention Center to run concurrently to his five-year sentence for a related bail-jumping charge.

Reporter Mary Cloud Taylor can be reached at 758-4459 or mtaylor@dailyinterlake.com.