KERN COUNTY, Calif. — On Aug. 21, a Kern County jury found Tobin Phillips guilty of first-degree murder with the special circumstance of torture for the January 2017 murder of eight-month-old Baron Smith.
The jury also found it true that Phillips committed the murder while he had been released from custody on another felony child abuse case in Whitman County, Washington.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Gina Pearl.
In November of 2016, Phillips was charged with felony child abuse for assaulting a three-week-old girl in Whitman County, Washington.
Phillips was told not the leave the State of Washington.
Two weeks later, Phillips fled the state and moved to Tehachapi, where he lived with his girlfriend and her two young children.
On Jan. 2, 2017, Phillips was watching Baron Smith when he decided to torture and kill the eight-month-old boy, he fled the scene but eventually turned himself into law enforcement.
Phillips faces a sentence of life without the possibility of parole for the special circumstances, first-degree murder of Baron Smith.
Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 18, before judge John W. Lua.
Notified of the verdict, District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer commented, “First-Degree murder with special circumstances carries the highest penalty recognized under the law, and the fact that this case involved the most innocent of all victims is a reminder of why that is the case. Kern County should take pride that its prosecutors’ dedication to the pursuit of justice despite these uncertain times is second to none.”
