BAKER v. WARD

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA

SHAWN P. BAKER,

Plaintiff, Civil No. 23-1001

v.

SPECIAL AGENT DANA WARD,

Defendant.

Costello, J. July 8, 2025

MEMORANDUM

Shawn P. Baker sued Special Agent Dana Ward under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for malicious

prosecution. The underlying case arose from the investigation and prosecution of Baker for the

alleged sexual assault of a female referred to here as E.C.1 Ward was an investigator for the

Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General and was involved in the investigation of the alleged

assault. More specifically, Ward authored an affidavit of probable cause in support of a criminal

complaint charging Baker with numerous crimes related to the assault. After a trial, Baker was

found not guilty of these crimes. In this lawsuit, Baker alleges that Ward’s affidavit in support

of Baker’s arrest did not disclose, and affirmatively misrepresented, material facts. Baker further

alleges that if the affidavit had been accurate, there would have been no probable cause to charge

him. Defendant moved for summary judgment, arguing that there is no genuine dispute that

probable cause existed to charge Baker. As is detailed below, the Court agrees and will grant the

motion for summary judgment.

1 E.C.’s full identity is known to the parties. She and the witnesses referred to in the affidavit

are referred to here by initials to protect their privacy.

I. FACTS

A. The Probable Cause Affidavit.

According to Ward’s affidavit, on the evening of November 14, 2020, E.C. and her

friend, T.L., went to a restaurant where they each had had some mixed drinks and beers. Aff. of

Prob. Cause, ECF No. 29-9 at 6-8.2 T.L. received a call from Baker inviting her to come to his

house. Id. at 6. E.C. and T.L. went to Baker’s house, and while there, E.C. drank some beer. Id.

Prior to the alleged sexual assault, E.C., T.L., and Baker picked up T.L.’s daughter, M.S., and

brought her to Baker’s house. Id. M.S. did not drink alcohol that evening. Id. When the group

returned to Baker’s house, he offered to grill some food and asked for E.C.’s help. Id. When

E.C. went outside to help Baker, her hair was up in a ponytail, in a black hair tie, and she was

wearing a buttoned blouse. Id. Once outside, Baker grabbed E.C., yanked her hair by her

ponytail, and physically forced E.C. into a sexual encounter with him. Id. E.C. stated that the

alleged sexual assault happened quickly. Id.

During the investigation E.C. gave Ward the buttoned blouse she wore on November

14th. Id. at 7. The shirt was missing three buttons which E.C. claimed were ripped off during the

assault. Id. at 6-7. E.C.’s black hair tie was also missing. Id. at 7. Ward searched Baker’s

house and found two of the missing buttons from E.C.’s blouse. Id. Ward did not find E.C.’s

black hair tie. Id. During the search, Ward interviewed Baker. Id. at 7-8. Ward reported that

Baker confirmed that E.C.’s hair was in a ponytail during the encounter. Id.

B. Inconsistencies Between the Investigation and the Probable Cause Affidavit

The affidavit’s version of events somewhat differs with the facts developed by Ward’s

2 The affidavit docketed at ECF No. 29-9 is the affidavit of probable cause supporting the

criminal complaint filed against Baker. Def.’s Stmt. of Add’l Facts, ECF No. 29-2 ¶¶ 19-20;

Pl.’s Resp. to Def.’s Stmt. of Add’l Facts, ECF No. 33-4 (no response to these paragraphs).

investigation. For instance, E.C. told police that she had two shots at the restaurant rather than

two mixed drinks. Joint Stip. of Mat. Facts, ECF No. 29-1 ¶ 5. E.C. also told Ward that in

addition to the beer she had at Baker’s house, she also had two double shots of whiskey. Id. ¶

44. In addition, Ward failed to mention in the affidavit that T.L., E.C.’s friend who was present

at Baker’s residence, told Ward that she blacked out from her drinking and did not recall many of

the events of that night. See Aff. of Prob. Cause, ECF No. 29-9 at 6-8; Pl.’s Resp. to Def.’s

Stmt. of Add’l Facts, ECF No. 33-5 ¶ 6; Ward’s Dep., ECF No. 29-5 at 67:4-8. Also, in contrast

to E.C.’s statement that the assault happened quickly, M.S., T.L.’s daughter, told Ward that

Baker and E.C. were alone for ten to fifteen minutes. Joint Stip. of Mat. Facts, ECF No. 29-1

¶ 58. Finally, during his interview, Baker told Ward that E.C.’s hair was down at her shoulders

and not in a ponytail as the affidavit stated. Id. ¶ 69.

Additional information not included in the affidavit was the fact that E.C. found the black

hair tie in the pocket of a jacket she was wearing the night of the alleged assault. Pl.’s Stmt. of

Mat. Facts, ECF No. 33-4 ¶ 40. E.C. found the hair tie on the day Ward’s affidavit was filed. Id.

C. Procedural History

Based on Ward’s affidavit, Baker was charged with one count of involuntary deviate

sexual intercourse, one count of sexual assault, two counts of aggravated indecent assault, two

counts of indecent assault, and one count of false imprisonment. Joint Stip. of Mat. Facts, ECF

No. 29-1 ¶ 87. On April 21, 2021, a preliminary hearing was held. Id. ¶ 89. During the

preliminary hearing, E.C. acknowledged that she was unsure whether her hair was up or down

during the alleged sexual assault. Prelim. Hr’g Tr., ECF No. 29-8 at 29:15-19. E.C. also

acknowledged that she believed that she had two shots of whiskey while at Baker’s house. Id. at

20:10-25. Upon the conclusion of the preliminary hearing, the magisterial district judge found

that probable cause existed for the charges and the case proceeded to trial. Joint Stip. of Mat.

Facts, ECF No. 29-1 ¶¶ 89, 91. After the trial, Baker was found not guilty. Id. ¶¶ 92-93. Baker

then filed this complaint against Ward asserting malicious prosecution claims under both state3

and federal law. Compl., ECF No. 1. The case proceeded through discovery and Ward now

moves for summary judgment. Def.’s Mot., ECF No. 29.

II. LEGAL STANDARDS

A. Summary Judgment

Summary judgment is appropriate when “there is no genuine dispute as to any material

fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). A fact is

material when its determination “might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law.”

Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986). A dispute of fact is genuine if a jury

could rationally find in favor of the non-moving party. Id. The moving party has the initial

burden of demonstrating the lack of a genuine dispute of material fact. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a).

Once this burden is satisfied, the non-moving party must counter with “specific facts showing

that there is a genuine issue for trial.” Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475

U.S. 574, 587 (1986) (citation omitted). In making this determination, the Court views the facts

and all reasonable inferences in favor of the party opposing the motion. Popa v. Harriet Carter

Gifts, Inc., 52 F.4th 121, 125 (3d Cir. 2022). Disagreements over what reasonable inferences

may be drawn from undisputed facts preclude summary judgment. Ideal Dairy Farms, Inc. v.

John Labatt, Ltd., 90 F.3d 737, 744 (3d Cir. 1996). The Court’s role at the summary judgment

3 Baker has consented to the dismissal of his state law malicious prosecution claim. See Pl.’s

Opp., ECF No. 33 at 17 n.3. Ward’s motion as to Baker’s state law claims will be granted for the

reasons stated in Defendant’s brief. Def.’s Br., ECF No. 29 at 13-14.

stage is not to weigh the evidence and determine the truth of the matter, but to determine whether

there is a genuine issue for trial. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 249.

B. Malicious Prosecution and Probable Cause

Section 1983 is employed to vindicate constitutional rights. Chiaverini v. City of

Napoleon, Ohio, 602 U.S. 556, 561 (2024). Malicious prosecution claims seek to redress

unreasonable seizures that result from the state’s prosecution of a person without probable cause.

Id. at 558. To succeed on this claim, Baker must prove that: 1) Ward initiated a criminal

proceeding; 2) the proceeding ended in Baker’s favor; 3) the proceeding was initiated without

probable cause; 4) Ward acted maliciously or for a purpose other than bringing Baker to justice;

and 5) Baker suffered a deprivation of liberty consistent with the concept of a seizure as a

consequence of the proceeding. Andrews v. Scuilli, 853 F.3d 690, 697 (3d Cir. 2017). Probable

cause in a malicious prosecution case must be evaluated “charge by charge.” Chiaverini, 602

U.S. at 562.

Probable cause “is not a high bar.” District of Columbia v. Wesby, 583 U.S. 48, 57

(2018). It exists where there is a “‘fair probability’ that the person committed the crime at

issue.” Dempsey v. Bucknell Univ., 834 F.3d 457, 467 (3d Cir. 2016) (citation omitted). When

“the facts and circumstances within the arresting officer’s knowledge are sufficient in themselves

to warrant a reasonable person to believe that an offense has been … committed by the

person…” probable cause exists. Id. (citation omitted). This bar is “significantly lower than the

standard which is required for conviction.” Wright v. City of Phila., 409 F.3d 595, 602 (3d Cir.

2005). Because probable cause only requires a “fair probability” that a crime occurred, Courts

need not “identify ‘the same type of specific evidence of each element of [an] offense as would

be needed to support a conviction.’” Dempsey, 834 F.3d at 477 (citation omitted).

Probable cause can exist even where there is conflicting or irreconcilable evidence. Id. at

468. Officers need not “correctly resolve conflicting evidence” nor accurately determine the

credibility of witnesses. Id. at 467 (citation omitted). Despite this, officers cannot “disregard

plainly exculpatory evidence” even where there is “substantial inculpatory evidence” that

“suggests probable cause exists.” Id. at 469. At the summary judgment stage, probable cause

must be assessed “based upon the ‘totality-of-the-circumstances’ available to the arresting officer

… view[ing] those circumstances in the light most favorable” to the plaintiff. Harvard v.

Cesnalis, 973 F.3d 190, 200 (3d Cir. 2020) (quoting Dempsey, 834 F.3d at 467-68). Probable

cause is ordinarily a question of fact in a malicious prosecution case. Dempsey, 834 F.3d at 468.

However, “summary judgment may be granted on the question of probable cause if a court

concludes that ‘the evidence, viewed most favorably to [the nonmoving party], reasonably would

not support a contrary factual finding.’” Id. (citation omitted).

C. Retrospective Challenges to a Judicially Approved Probable Cause Affidavit

Once a judge approves a probable cause affidavit, Courts normally defer to the warrant-

issuing judge’s determination unless it can be shown that “the officer misrepresented material

information to get the warrant.” Pinkney v. Meadville, Pennsylvania, 95 F.4th 743, 748 (3d Cir.

2024). An officer misrepresents material information when it can be shown that “first, … the

officer, with at least a reckless disregard for the truth, ‘made false statements or omissions that

create[d] a falsehood in applying for a warrant,’ and second, that those assertions or omissions

were ‘material, or necessary, to the finding of probable cause.’” Dempsey, 834 F.3d at 468-69

(citation omitted).

If the officer made reckless assertions or omissions, the Court must reconstruct the

affidavit, word-by-word, so that it can proceed with a materiality analysis. Id. at 470, 474.

Material information is information asserted or omitted that was “necessary … to the finding of

probable cause.” Wilson v. Russo, 212 F.3d 781, 789 (3d Cir. 2000) (citation omitted). For the

court to grant summary judgment on probable cause, it must conclude that “no reasonable jury

could find facts that would lead to the conclusion” that the reconstructed affidavit lacked

probable cause. Id. at 792.

III. DISCUSSION

A. Reconstructing the Affidavit

The first issue to consider is whether Ward made false statements or omissions that

created a falsehood in applying for the warrant in this case. As noted above, Ward did not

convey in the affidavit the accurate amount of alcohol E.C. consumed. Ward stated that E.C. had

a couple of beers and a couple of mixed drinks at the restaurant. Aff. of Probable Cause, ECF

No. 29-9 at 6. He further stated that E.C. “did not drink any liquor” at Baker’s house. Id.

However, E.C. told Ward that she had a couple of shots of liquor at the restaurant and had two

double shots of whiskey at Baker’s house. Because Ward had information that contradicted the

assertions he made in the probable cause affidavit, a reasonable juror could find that Ward had

reason to doubt the accuracy of his statements regarding E.C.’s alcohol consumption.

Next, Ward omitted from the affidavit details about T.L.’s intoxication that impacted her

competence as a witness. A reasonable juror could find that Ward knew that T.L. was

intoxicated on the evening in question because T.L. said so during her interview. Although T.L.

did not witness the alleged assault, she was present at the restaurant, Baker’s house, and E.C.’s

house that night. Her questionable competence as a witness to the factual circumstances

surrounding the alleged assault could conceivably impact the probable cause analysis.4

A further discrepancy involves the length of time Baker and E.C. were alone, during

which time E.C. claims the assault occurred. E.C. claimed that the encounter happened quickly

while M.S. claimed that E.C. and Baker were alone for ten to fifteen minutes. M.S. provided this

information to Ward in her statement. This discrepancy could impact the probable cause

analysis. See Dempsey, 834 F.3d at 473 (additional information regarding length of time parties

were alone in sex crime investigation was relevant to probable cause).

The final discrepancy concerns whether E.C. had her hair in a ponytail during the alleged

assault. According to the affidavit, Baker grabbed E.C. by her ponytail. The probable cause

affidavit stated that Baker confirmed that E.C.’s hair was in a ponytail that night. Aff. of Prob.

Cause, ECF. No. 29-9 at 7. That was incorrect. In fact, Baker told Ward that E.C.’s hair was

down around her shoulders. Joint Stip. of Mat. Facts, ECF No. 29-1 ¶ 69.

Based on these discrepancies, there can be no doubt that the affidavit included some

errors, and that relevant information was omitted. Therefore, the Court will reconstruct the

affidavit. The reconstructed affidavit reads as follows:

…3. On 11/14/2020, Victim E.C. was at The Sandwich Factory,

Lancaster County, PA, with her friend, Witness T.L. age 38. They

each had a couple beers, a couple mixed drinks [shots of liquor]

and ate some food. Witness T.L. received a call from defendant

Shawn P. Baker, age 52. Witness T.L. was borrowing an item from

Baker and he advised that she could come by his residence and

pick the item up. Baker’s residence is 1950 State St. East

4 Baker’s reconstruction of this section, that T.L. “had no recollection” of the rest of the evening,

is not supported by the factual record. See Pl.’s Opp., ECF No. 33 at 10. Per Ward’s

investigative report, T.L. did recall certain events that occurred after the group picked up M.S.,

including that E.C. told T.L. and M.S. that Baker tried to undo her pants. Joint Stip. of Mat.

Facts, ECF No. 29-1 ¶¶ 38, 54; Ward’s Investigative Report, ECF No. 29-4 at 4; Ward’s Dep.,

ECF No. 29-5 at 71:7-72:8.

Petersburg, PA 17520. Witness T.L. Invited Victim E.C. to come

along. They purchased a six pack of beer to take with them.

Victim E.C. followed Witness T.L. to Baker’s in her vehicle.

Victim E.C. had never met Baker before, had never spoken to him

and had never been to his residence.

4. At Baker’s residence, Victim E.C. met Baker for the first time.

Victim E.C. had a couple of the beers that they had brought with

them. Witness T.L. also had a couple beers and began drinking

liquor with Baker. Victim E.C. did not drink any liquor

[consumed two double shots of whiskey, or the equivalent of

four individual shots]. After a period of time, Witness T.L.

received a phone call from her daughter, Witness M.S. age 19, who

advised she needed to be picked up. Baker, Victim E.C. and

Witness T.L. drove in Baker’s car to pick up Witness M.S. and the

four of them returned to Baker’s residence. [Witness T.L. stated

that she “blacked out” from alcohol consumption while at

Baker’s home and could not recall much of the events after

they picked up M.S.] Witness M.S. did not drink alcohol the

entire evening. Up to this point in the evening, Victim E.C.

reported that there was no flirting, no gestures or sexual innuendos

between her and Baker. She described them as having “casual

conversations.”

5. As the four of them visited, they had snacks of chips and salsa

and popcorn. They all became hungry and Baker said he would

grill some ham steaks on his grill, everyone agreed. At this point

in the evening Victim E.C. had her long brown hair in a ponytail

hair style with the ponytail being held by a black hair tie. She had

on a bra, tank top style t-shirt over her bra and a striped blouse

with three quarter length sleeves, buttons up the front and a collar

over the tank top. She was wearing underwear, pants that buttoned

and zippered in the front and shoes. Baker asked Victim E.C. if

she would help him with the steaks and she agreed. She followed

Baker through a couple rooms, out a back door to the rear outdoor

back porch area where the grill was located.

6. Upon stepping out on the back porch, Baker immediately

grabbed Victim E.C. by her ponytail, pulling hard and hurting her

scalp. Victim E.C. reported that it happened so fast she had no

time to react. Baker pushed her back up against the wall of the

house by the back porch door. Baker said something to Victim

E.C. about being “her daddy.” Baker ripped open her blouse, lifted

up her bra and exposed her breasts. He licked and sucked on her

breasts while pinning her to the wall. His hands had dropped and

quickly unbuttoned her pants and he pulled them down to her mid-

thigh area. Victim E.C. said she was in “shock” and “it happened

so fast” and she was thinking “Oh my God, what is happening.”

Baker bent over and licked the front of her vagina with his tongue.

He penetrated her vagina with his fingers and then took the same

fingers and shoved them into Victim E.C.’s mouth. He then

shoved her in the direction of the grill and said something like,

“Get your fucking ham steaks.”

Victim E.C. pulled up her pants and was wondering what just

happened. She took a ham steak and returned to the house via the

kitchen door off the back porch, not the same door where she

entered the porch from. She immediately became upset and

emotional. Victim E.C. walked through the kitchen into the living

room where Witnesses T.L. and M.S. were sitting. [Witness M.S.

reported that Victim E.C. and Baker were alone together for

ten to fifteen minutes.] Victim E.C. looked at Witness M.S. and

quietly “mouthed,” “We have to go.” Victim E.C. put down her

plate, retrieved her car keys and left via the back kitchen door that

she had just entered. As she was leaving, Baker asked her “what

her fucking problem was.” She got into her car but didn’t leave

right away. She did not want to leave Witnesses T.L. and M.S. in

the residence with Baker. Victim E.C. reported that she did not

consent, in any way, to Baker’s sexual contact.

7. Victim E.C. sent a text message to Witness M.S. to get Witness

T.L. and leave the house. Witness M.S. came outside and Victim

E.C. told her what happened. Witness M.S. texted Witness T.L. to

leave the house. After a few minutes, Witness M.S. was able to get

her mother Witness T.L. out of the house and they all went to

Victim E.C.’s home, where Victim E.C. told them in detail what

had occurred. At this point in the evening, phone records show

that it was past midnight and 11/15/2020. Victim E.C., in the early

morning hours, tried to call a County Detective friend of hers to

seek guidance and tell her what happened. The detective did not

answer her phone. Victim E.C. was crying and emotional when

she placed the call.

8. The next day, Victim E.C. reported the incident to a prosecutor

friend who advised her that she should call a female Detective and

Victim E.C. could make a report. Victim E.C. agreed and a police

report was taken. During the report, Victim E.C. stated that her

hair tie was missing and three buttons from her blouse were ripped

off during the incident.

9. On 11/18/2020, Victim E.C. and Witness T.L. and M.S.

provided recorded interviews and detailed statements about the

incident. Victim E.C. provided her striped blouse which showed

that three buttons were missing. She also described her hair tie as

like the one she wore for this interview. Later on this date, a

Search Warrant was executed at Baker’s residence to search for

three missing buttons and the hair tie. Two buttons were found but

the hair tie and third button was not located. During the Search

Warrant and after being verbally Mirandized, Baker waived his

Miranda rights and asked if he could tell me what happened.

Baker’s entire statement was video and audio recorded on an

officer’s body camera system.

10. At first Baker said he knew nothing about the buttons. Then

he changed his statement and said he found it where she was sitting

on the floor. He said he threw the button away in the kitchen trash.

(A button was found in the kitchen trash.) Then he changed his

statement again and said that he found a second button in the living

room and also threw it away. (A second button was found in the

living room behind the TV stand on the floor.) When asked to

explain the button found on the floor, Baker explained that he

thought he threw both buttons away but must have placed one of

the buttons on the TV stand and then when he moved the TV, the

button must have fallen onto the floor.

11. As for the sexual contact, Baker said that Victim E.C. had been

flirting with him all night long. He said she did [not] have her hair

in a ponytail. She followed him outside when he went out to grill

the ham steaks. Before stepping outside, Baker said he was

standing in the back room and Victim E.C. was standing in the

doorway to another room. Victim E.C. was in a doorway that was

a step above Baker, so as he stood, his face was about breast level

to Victim E.C. Baker said that Victim E.C. started to kiss him and

then she ripped open her own shirt exposing her breasts. He said

he did lick and suck on her breasts while she was unbuttoning and

pulling down her pants and underwear exposing her vagina. Baker

said he turned her around so she was facing away from him and

she bent over at the waist. Baker said he licked and penetrated the

rear of her vagina and her anus with his tongue. He said he put his

fingers in her vagina and she had an orgasm in forty (40) seconds.

12. He said the incident stopped because he told her that

Witnesses T.L. and M.S. were in the next room and they had to

stop. Baker said Victim E.C. initiated all the sexual contact and it

was him who had to stop her from continuing. Baker described the

incident as “hot” and “intense.” Baker said he returned to the

living room and Victim E.C. took a ham steak off the grill.

13. Baker said he was in the living room and could see Victim

E.C. enter through the kitchen door. He said Victim E.C. looked

upset and emotional. Baker said he assumed that E.C. had a

boyfriend and was upset because she had just cheated on him.

Baker said that Victim E.C. did not enter the living room but got

her keys and left through the kitchen. Baker said later, both

Witnesses T.L. and M.S. left his house without explaining what

was going on. Baker said he didn’t understand why they left.

14. Phone evidence obtained showed that Victim E.C. did text

Witness M.S. and was attempting to get them out of the house.

The voice mail where Victim E.C. called the County Detective was

obtained and Victim E.C. was upset and emotional. The buttons on

Victim E.C.’s blouse had a slight pearl color to them. The buttons

found during the Search Warrant matched the color of the buttons

on the blouse. The threads that were holding the found buttons

appear to be pulled and jagged rather than cut neatly and even.

Both Witnesses T.L. and M.S. reported that they did not witness

Victim E.C. flirting In any way with Baker.…

B. The Materiality Analysis

Having reconstructed the affidavit, the next issue for the Court to consider is whether

Ward’s inaccurate assertions or omissions were material, or necessary, to the finding of probable

cause. To establish probable cause for the crimes charged, Ward had to factually establish a fair

probability that Baker compelled E.C., through physical force, to engage in oral sexual

intercourse, to digitally penetrate her, to grope and lick her breast, and that Baker restrained E.C.

and substantially interfered with her ability to leave. 18 Pa. C.S. §§ 3101, 3123, 3124.1,

3125(a)(2), 3126(a)(2), 2903. The reconstructed affidavit factually establishes a fair probability

that Baker committed the crimes with which he was charged.

E.C. provided sufficient information to investigators to establish these elements. A

statement from a victim witness, by itself, usually establishes probable cause “in the absence of

‘[i]ndependent exculpatory evidence or substantial evidence of [a] witness’s own unreliability’

that ‘outweigh[s]’ the probable cause that otherwise exists.” Dempsey, 834 F.3d at 477-78

(citation omitted). “[S]ome ‘unreliability or exculpatory evidence’ will not ‘fatally undermine[

]’ probable cause otherwise established.” Id. at 478 (citation omitted).

Ward’s underrepresentation of E.C.’s alcohol consumption does not defeat probable

cause. Undoubtedly, Ward had additional information regarding E.C.’s alcohol consumption

that he did not disclose in the affidavit. But Ward also had evidence that corroborated E.C.’s

account. Specifically, Ward’s search of Baker’s house discovered two of the three missing

buttons from E.C.’s blouse. Ward also had the statements of T.L., M.S., and Baker that

corroborated parts of E.C.’s account. The underrepresentation of E.C.’s alcohol consumption is

not the kind of substantial evidence of unreliability that would obviate the probable cause her

statement provided. See Baynard v. Sapienza, Civ. No. 20-7723, 2022 WL 2093186, at *6-8

(D.N.J. June 10, 2022) (complainant being under the influence of opioids during crime and

during statement to police reduced complainant’s reliability but did not obviate probable cause).

T.L.’s state of intoxication was also not material to the probable cause finding. Here,

M.S., a sober witness, was present for the same events. In addition, T.L.’s memory was not

entirely compromised. She recalled certain events after she left Baker’s house, specifically

E.C.’s initial disclosure of the incident to both M.S. and her. Therefore, T.L.’s state of

intoxication at the exact time of the alleged assault has no bearing on the probable cause finding.

Likewise, the discrepancy involving the length of time Baker and E.C. were alone,

during which time E.C. claims the assault occurred, is not material to a probable cause finding.

E.C. claimed that the encounter happened quickly while M.S. claimed that E.C. and Baker were

alone for ten to fifteen minutes. These two statements are not obviously contradictory. Both

statements could be true. Being alone together for up to fifteen minutes does not at all suggest

that the alleged assault did not happen quickly from E.C.’s perspective. Thus, the discrepancy

does not cast serious doubt on E.C.’s version of events for purposes of determining probable

cause. See Dempsey, 834 F.3d at 480-81 (time difference of incident occurring over the course

of a minute versus ten minutes was not material to probable cause finding).

Finally, Baker’s statement that E.C.’s hair was not in a ponytail is not material to finding

probable cause. E.C.’s hair being down, rather than up in a ponytail, differed from her statement

that Baker yanked her hair by her ponytail. Probable cause, however, definitionally allows for

the existence of conflicting evidence. See Tarr v. City of Pittsburgh, 800 F. App’x 131, 135 (3d

Cir. 2020) (conflicting accounts regarding how a person’s head was hit in assault case was not

material to probable cause finding). E.C.’s hair being up or down, while an inconsistency, does

not directly contradict her version of events, i.e., that Baker grabbed and yanked her hair during

the alleged sexual assault.

Considering the reconstructed affidavit as a whole, there is no question that probable

cause existed for Baker’s arrest. No reasonable juror could find that either the Court’s

reconstructed affidavit or, for that matter, Baker’s proposed reconstructed affidavit does not

establish a fair probability that the charged crimes occurred. See Dempsey, 834 F.3d at 467;

Chiaverini, 602 U.S. at 558.5 The discrepancies that Baker identified are simply not sufficient to

obviate probable cause. They do not rise to the level of independent exculpatory evidence or

substantial evidence of witness unreliability necessary to question probable cause. At best, those

discrepancies could—and perhaps did—create reasonable doubt at trial. That is not the standard

5 The reconstructed affidavits also demonstrate probable cause for false imprisonment. Viewing

the facts in Baker’s favor, Ward made the decision to charge Baker with false imprisonment. The

affidavits establish a fair probability that Baker, through allegedly grabbing and pulling E.C.’s

hair and pinning her against a wall “substantially” interfered with E.C.’s ability to leave. 18 Pa.

C.S. § 2903(a).

here. Zimmerman v. Corbett, 873 F.3d 414, 419 (3d Cir. 2017). As noted above, probable cause

is not a high bar. Under the circumstances presented here, no reasonable jury could find facts

that would lead to the conclusion that the reconstructed affidavit lacked probable cause.

It is also worth noting that the “independent judicial determination” of probable cause

that occurred at the preliminary hearing in the underlying case further substantiates that probable

cause existed for Baker’s arrest. See Fisher v. Matthews, 792 F. Supp. 2d 745, 780-81 (M.D. Pa.

2011). The judge at the preliminary hearing had the benefit of additional information regarding

E.C.’s alcohol consumption and the uncertainty as to whether E.C.’s hair was up or down at the

time of the alleged sexual assault. Prelim. Hr’g Tr., ECF No. 29-8 at 20:10-15, 29:15-19.

Despite this additional information, the magisterial district judge found that probable cause

existed to advance all charges to trial. Joint Stip. of Mat. Facts, ECF No. 29-1 4 91.

Because there is no genuine dispute of material fact that probable cause existed for

Baker’s arrest, the Court will grant Defendant’s summary judgment motion.® An appropriate

order follows.

BY THE COURT:

Mn. ko >

MARY KAY COSTELLO, 1.

6 Ward is also entitled to qualified immunity. Qualified immunity asks whether a Defendant

violated a constitutional right that was clearly established. Pearson v. Callahan, 555 U.S. 223,

231-32 (2009). Ifthe Court finds no constitutional violation, the inquiry stops, and immunity has

been established. /d. at 236. Because Ward did not violate Baker’s constitutional rights as

explained above, Ward is entitled to qualified immunity.

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