Convicted kidnapper Gerard John Baumgarte has filed a notice of appeal.
Baumgarte, 57, was sentenced to 18 years in prison in Red Deer’s Court of Queen’s Bench in March after pleading guilty to kidnapping and sexually assaulting a Penhold teenager in February 2009. The teen was held hostage in Baumgarte’s Red Deer residence for almost two days and was assaulted several times before he released her.
Alberta Justice said Baumgarte filed an appeal notice April 28. It will be spoken to in Court of Queen’s Bench Sept. 7-8.
Baumgarte posed as a police officer when he stopped his victim outside her home and asked her to get into his car, which was equipped with red and flashing lights. He slashed her in the cheek with a knife, pointed an imitation handgun at her, bound her and put her in the trunk of his car.
In November, Baumgarte pleaded guilty to kidnapping, forcible confinement, sexual assault, using an imitation firearm in the commission of an offence, assault using a knife and falsely representing himself as a peace officer.
His sentence was reduced to 15 years and 315 days in prison after he was given credit for just over a year spent in custody.
Baumgarte’s Red Deer lawyer Patty MacNaughton said after sentencing her client did not intend to appeal. Her office said Thursday she had no comment.