FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
| Date: | July 11, 2022 |
| Contact: | Emily Lowe Public Information Officer 208-287-7700 |
| RE: | State v. Josina Regan – Sentencing |
BOISE – On Monday, 46-year-old Josina Regan was sentenced to serve up to life in prison for the murder of a 52-year-old man.
In October 2020, Ms. Regan shot and killed John K. Baker in his Boise residence. Ms. Regan did not call 911 until hours after the murder, and after committing several other crimes, including preparing false evidence by editing data on her cell phone and stealing narcotics and money from the victim’s residence. When Ms. Regan did eventually call 911, she claimed to have just discovered the victim, and initially claimed no involvement.
In April 2022, a jury convicted Ms. Regan on 9 of 10 counts including: first-degree murder, preparing false evidence, possession of a controlled substance, conspiracy to possess a controlled substance, grand theft, conspiracy to commit grand theft, and three misdemeanors for possession of a controlled substance, conspiracy to possess a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. The jury acquitted Ms. Regan on intimidating a witness.
“Human life needs to have a value, and it needs to be a significant value when someone with malice aforethought takes another person’s life,” said Honorable Ada County District Judge Nancy Baskin during Ms. Regan’s sentencing. “This is an example of drugs being a dirty business. This sentence is clearly meant to deter others from being involved both in drug activity and to taking matters into their own hands and killing another individual when other options are available for them.”
Judge Baskin sentenced Ms. Regan to the state’s sentencing recommendation of life imprisonment, with 30 years fixed before being eligible for parole.
“I extend my sincere condolences to Mr. Baker’s family and friends,” said Ada County Prosecutor Jan Bennetts. “Thank you to the Boise Police detectives for their thorough work on this complex investigation, which allowed my office to ensure justice was served.”