EVERETT A man from Concrete has admitted guilt to two felony counts stemming from an alleged sexual assault on a Mill Creek woman he encountered via a dating application.
Matthew Baird, 30, entered his plea in Snohomish County Superior Court on a Tuesday afternoon, stipulating to third-degree rape and second-degree assault involving strangulation with a sexual motivation.
Mill Creek officers took Baird into custody in May, roughly eleven months after the 27-year-old victim first alerted authorities that she had been assaulted during a first-date encounter at her residence in late May 2025, according to court filings.
The victim recounted to investigators that Baird escalated from flirtation to physical aggression, removing her clothing, applying pressure to her neck, and ultimately committing rape. She noted her limited mobility, she relies on a wheelchair and has minimal use of her lower limbs, made resisting him especially difficult, as documented in court records.
Prosecutors also noted that two additional women, each previously involved with Baird, came forward with comparable accounts of sexual assault after connecting with him through online dating platforms.
Prior to facing charges in Snohomish County, Baird had already resolved a separate case in Whatcom County, where he pleaded guilty to fourth-degree assault involving sexual motivation.
A Snohomish County detective previously indicated that investigations into potential further victims remained ongoing at the time of Baird’s arrest.
During Tuesday’s hearing, Baird responded exclusively with “yes” or “no” to questions posed by Superior Court Judge Jon T. Scott before formally accepting the guilty pleas. His defense attorney, appointed through the public defender’s office, chose not to issue a statement after the proceedings concluded.
Under state sentencing guidelines, the third-degree rape conviction carries a recommended term of 15 to 20 months, with an upper limit of five years imprisonment. The second-degree assault conviction comes with a standard range of 13 to 17 months, augmented by a two-year enhancement due to the sexual motivation aggravator.
Combined, prosecutors have proposed a total incarceration period exceeding four years. Baird will also be required to enroll in the sex offender registry and remain under community supervision for life.
A formal sentencing hearing is set for December 2, per publicly accessible court logs.