Dana Point man charged with murder in New Year's Eve party gone wrong.

Posted By CotoBlogzz



SANTA ANA, CA  - Adam Randy Baker, has been charged with murdering one man and injuring his friend by stabbing the victims after a New Year's Eve hotel party, according to the Orange County District Attorney's (OCDA) office.

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Baker,  23, Dana Point, is charged with one felony count of murder, one felony count of attempted murder, and a sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a deadly weapon. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 23 years to life in state prison. TheOCDA will be requesting $1 million bail at Baker's arraignment.

At approximately 2:00 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2011, Baker is accused of sitting on a bench near the valet parking area at the Hilton Hotel in Costa Mesa after attending a New Year's Eve party at the hotel. When a group of men exited the hotel, Baker is accused of flicking his cigarette at them and starting a verbal argument with 27-year-old Robert Sickles.

The defendant is accused of approaching Sickles and starting a physical fight by pushing the victim. Baker is accused of pulling out a knife, slashing the victim across the chest, and stabbing him one time in the chest. Sickles' friend, 26-year-old Brian McTeigue, attempted to intervene to protect his friend and Baker is accused of stabbing McTeigue one time in the back.

The victims' friends became involved in the physical fight to defend Sickles and McTeigue and detained Baker. The Costa Mesa Police Department, who were already at the hotel responding to unrelated disturbances, responded immediately.

Sickles and McTeigue were transported to Western Medical Center, where Sickles was pronounced dead on arrival as a result of his stab wound to the chest. McTeigue was treated for a non-fatal stab wound to the back and was later released. Baker was transported to Mission Hospital to be treated for facial fractures sustained after the stabbing. He will be taken into custody upon discharge from the hospital.