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Saying Phillip Baca had “crossed all lines of human decency,” 2nd Judicial District Judge Judith Nakamura on Friday imposed the maximum sentence of 27 years in prison for stabbing to death a resident of the home he had invaded.
Baca was arrested in May 2011 by Albuquerque Police Department officers called to an apartment complex in the 400 block of Mesilla SE about an individual who had been stabbed. Officers arrived, found victim John Schwabe bleeding from multiple stab wounds and Baca lying on the kitchen floor of the apartment complaining of pain.
Schwabe was transported to UNMH, where he died from his injuries.
Officers discovered Baca had barged into the apartment wearing a ski mask, scuffled with the victim and stabbed him repeatedly.
Police attributed the incident to drug activity.
In October 2012, Baca pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, aggravated burglary with a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary and conspiracy to commit armed robbery.
— This article appeared on page C2 of the Albuquerque Journal
