Token Comeuppance

Before pronouncing sentence in Washington last week, Federal Judge Oliver Gasch looked down from the bench at Robert G. Baker and said:

"Mr. Baker, you may speak if you wish." Said Bobby: "I have nothing, Your Honor." Thereupon Baker, 38, who was convicted last January 29 on charges that read like a white-collar crime wave--seven counts of income tax evasion, grand larceny, fraud, conspiracy and transportation of stolen money--got almost nothing in the way of punishment. Though the maximum possible sentence was 48 years in jail and fines of $47,000, he was not fined, received a jail term of only one to three years. He would thus be eligible for parole, with time off for good behavior, after serving 347 days. Appeals are expected to stave off even that token comeuppance for several months. Meanwhile the former Senate page is free to pursue his diverse business interests.

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