Exeter man convicted in cousin’s 2015 stabbing death

An Exeter man faces 55-years-to-life in prison after being convicted by a jury last week for his participation in the stabbing death of his cousin.

On Jan. 18, Patrick Lee Baca, 41, was convicted of second-degree murder for his involvement in the 2015 incident, according to a news release from Tulare County District Attorney’s Office.

During the evening of July 26, 2015, Baca brandished a knife and punched the victim during an argument between family members in Porterville. The victim was knocked to the ground and a juvenile cousin pierced the victim’s heart with the knife, according to the release.

While Baca and the juvenile fled, the victim died at the scene from massive blood loss. Both suspects were arrested and the juvenile’s case has been handled in juvenile court.

Baca is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 16, 2018 in Tulare County Superior Court. He was previously convicted for battery causing serious injury in 1998, and in 2001 he was convicted of robbing a taxi driver, the release said.

This story was originally published January 23, 2018 at 11:47 PM with the headline "Exeter man convicted in cousin’s 2015 stabbing death."