Salem man held in rape of child, 2

The suspect also faces a rape charge in Salem that involves a 4-year-old relative.
By PATRICIA MEADE
VINDICATOR CRIME REPORTER
NORTH LIMA -- If convicted of raping a 2-year-old Boardman girl, Joshua D. Baird of Salem faces life in prison, a police chief says.
Beaver Township Police Chief Carl N. Frost said the case would be presented directly to a Mahoning County grand jury today.
Baird, 25, of Salem-Unity Road, charged with rape, was arraigned Wednesday evening in Mahoning County Court in Canfield. Judge Scott Hunter denied him bond and ordered him returned to the Mahoning County jail.
Beaver Detective Lt. Richard Martin and Juvenile Detective Daniel Valentine arrested Baird on Tuesday, after he confessed the crime, Frost said. "He alluded that he has a problem with children," the chief said.
Baird had been free on $50,000 bond and awaiting trial in the rape of a 4-year-old relative in Salem. Salem police arrested him Nov. 19 on charges of rape and gross sexual imposition, Frost said.
Salem lawyer Brian Macala said he was contacted by Baird a while back to represent him on the Columbiana County case then recently about the new charge.
"We talked about his financial obligation to retain me," said Macala, who also is Campbell law director.
Macala said he has not been formally retained and therefore could not speak on Baird's behalf.
What happened
The parents of the 2-year-old Boardman girl brought her to the police station Dec. 7, telling officers they suspected Baird had molested the child during a get-together Thanksgiving.
The girl gave a statement to Tri-County Advocacy Group, while detectives listened in another room, Frost said.
Frost said the rape of the 2-year-old, who lives at the north end of Boardman, took place at a South Avenue address. The home is in Beaver Township but has a Poland mailing address.
Frost said Baird is a friend of the people who hosted the holiday gathering. The little girl's parents are distant relatives of the hosts', he said.
He said the rape took place in a bedroom.
The chief said Deanna Calabreeze, an assistant Mahoning County prosecutor assigned to prosecute sex crimes, will handle the case.
meade@vindy.com