At the age of 21, Maryland House District 2B candidate Ocewana E. Baker is looking to become one of the youngest people elected to Maryland’s House of Delegates.
When the Washington County Democrat entered the race last September, she had no criminal record. A month later, she was charged with second degree assault after punching a counterprotester during a Hagerstown No Kings protest last Oct. 14.
Baker’s campaign manager, Nicole Baker, gave a statement to Capital News Service saying the candidate’s busy schedule limited her availability to comment.
“While the legal process has proceeded as it has, Ms. Baker stands by the fact that she was responding to a situation she perceived as threatening and deeply distressing,” her campaign manager said. “Prior to the incident, the individual involved allegedly made threats toward her dog, including statements about harming the animal, and directed hostile and derogatory language toward Ms. Baker, including slurs.”
Capital News Service discovered the incident through a review of the court records of all 235 General Assembly candidates who face a competitive primary on June 23. Early voting begins Thursday.
The candidate Baker, who uses she/her pronouns, was charged under the legal name Malique Baker. Court documents obtained by Capital News Service show that Baker told the arresting officer that the name change had occurred recently and she hadn’t yet obtained an identification card with the name change.
A video posted by Radio Free Hub City showed Baker, in a gray hoodie, interacting with a counterprotester in a red MAGA hat holding a two-sided sign, with one side reading: “Democrats are a terrorist organization.”
The video shows that Baker and the counterprotester, identified by law enforcement as Richard Hrabe, stood near each other on a street corner for more than a half hour. Several other people came and left the frame, interacting with both. Eventually, Baker moved close to the counter-protester and appeared to initiate contact, leaning into him.
The pair appeared to exchange words and slight bumps for more than a minute before Baker drew away and wound up for a punch. The man looked at her and turned away before Baker punched him from behind, knocking his hat off and sending him into the street but not causing him to fall down.
The General Assembly candidate was charged with second degree assault, disorderly conduct and affray — a charge that involves engaging in a disorderly public fight. The state decided to drop prosecution of the latter two charges.
After the case was heard Jan. 8, Baker was given a one-year suspended sentence and ordered to complete 24 hours of community service within 60 days.
According to a statement Baker’s assigned caseworker sent to the courts, the community service hours were not completed by the March deadline because Baker faced eviction, had “several medical situations” and did not have transportation. However, according to the caseworker, Baker “kept in weekly contact” and completed the hours in April.
“Like many Americans, she has faced challenges and difficult moments in her life,” Baker’s campaign manager said. “Rather than disqualifying her from public service, she believes those experiences have strengthened her understanding of the struggles many constituents face every day.”
Court documents show the arresting officer told Baker that both she and Hrabe would be charged because the policeman had seen each assault the other. There are currently no public records of charges against Hrabe from that incident.
However, Radio Free Hub City reported that on Feb. 3 of this year, Hrabe appeared at a protest against a proposed ICE Detention Facility in Washington County sporting the same red hat and a sign reading “ICE is nice.”
He was charged with second degree assault that day. Court records also show Hrabe was charged with another count of second degree assault on April 15, two months after the first charge. Both of those cases are ongoing.
Baker is challenging Del. Matthew J. Schindler in District 2B’s Democratic primary. In response to a questionnaire sent to all primary candidates for the CNS General Assembly primary voter guide, Baker said her campaign is focused on expanding affordable housing, addressing homelessness, strengthening addiction recovery and mental health services and ensuring survivors of sexual assault have access to justice and support.
“I’m running for the Maryland General Assembly because communities like Hagerstown deserve leadership that understands their struggles and fights for real solutions,” Baker wrote. “My own experiences with hardship, homelessness and loss showed me how urgently our communities need compassion, resources and action.”