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Man facing multiple felonies admits to two charges as part of plea deal

By Howard B. Owens

A conspiricy to commit murder charge was dropped today against Derick Barker, 26, of Georgia, as part of a plea deal that had him admit to two felony charges.

Barker, who first made the news for running across the Thruway last June in an attempt to evade police, admitted to criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal strangulation.

When Barker was first arrested, he was taken into custody along with his brother Justin, 22, and Benjamin Santiago Jr., 22.

In September, the brothers were accused of a plot to murder Santiago. In January, Justin Barker entered a guilty plea to the conspiracy charge.

A short time later, Derick Barker was charged with strangulation for choking a fellow inmate in the Genesee County Jail.

For the drug and strangulation charges, Barker faces up to eight years in prison. He will be sentenced in April.

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