By DAMIEN FISHER, InDepthNH.org

A man arrested for allegedly soliciting sex with a five-year-old child in Utah is a former employee of a nonprofit organization for at-risk youth in New Hampshire.

Patrick Baker, 25, was recently arrested in Utah, on charges of sexual exploitation of a minor and attempted sodomy, according to law enforcement. Before moving to Utah, Baker worked at ADAPT, the North Country organization that serves youth aged 5 to 21 in Grafton and Coos counties.

“When I heard about the charges they made me sick to my stomach,” said Sean O’Brien, ADAPT’s executive director.

Baker worked for ADAPT for a couple of years, O’Brien said, and there were never any red flags or signs of problems with his behavior. Baker passed extensive background checks and interview process before he was allowed to work for ADAPT, O’Brien said.

“We run a really good program. People do slip through the cracks,” O’Brien said.

Baker left New Hampshire this spring and started work as the teen program director for the Murray Boys and Girls Club in Murray, Utah. He was also a part-time lifeguard for Park City, Utah. 

Baker allegedly used the internet and text messages to connect with someone he thought was a 5-year-old boy, according to media reports. Baker used the messages to set up a sexual encounter with the child, the reports state.

But it wasn’t a child Baker was allegedly communicating with in Utah, and he was instead met by police officers when he arrived at the planned meet up, according to the reports. Baker tried to run away from his arrest, but was quickly caught, according to the reports.

O’Brien said there’s no indication Baker abused any children through ADAPT. The nonprofit offers a variety of adventure experiences, like camping and rock climbing, to assist at-risk youth. ADAPT is part of the New Hampshire Children’s System of Care, created by the Department of Health and Human Services to address the mental health and behavior services needs of New Hampshire children.