Anderson woman charged with helping hide former councilman accused of raping child

ANDERSON, Ind. — Accused of raping and molesting a child, former Indiana councilman and preacher Steve Sumner fled the state of Indiana. He was on the run for more than two years before he was caught. But he didn’t act alone.

Now, authorities are pressing charges against the woman accused of helping Sumner avoid justice. Sharon Bailey Barker (also known as Sharon Bailey Wood) is charged with assisting a criminal, a Level 5 felony.

While court records still show an active warrant for Barker’s arrest, the Madison County Prosecutor’s Office confirms she was arrested on Monday in Howard County, Maryland.

Officials say information learned during Barker’s arrest led to Sumner being found and arrested on Tuesday in Winchester, Kentucky.

Previous stories detail how Sumner was charged in 2020 with a litany of child sex crimes. He’s accused of raping and molesting an underage girl. Sumner resigned from the Madison County Council months after the charges were filed.

In 2023, rather than stand trial, Sumner fled the state.

But he wasn’t alone.

Court documents reveal that through the accusations and the fugitive manhunt, Barker was at Sumner’s side.

Barker worked at Payless in Anderson from June 2019 to March 2023 when she abruptly quit. She was in a relationship with Sumner, with former coworkers recalling Sumner dropping off and picking up Barker from work.

When news broke about Sumner being charged with child molestation, a coworker recalled Barker defending Sumner and saying she did not believe the allegations were true.

Barker’s own daughter spoke with police, court documents reveal, and told investigators she also confronted her mother about Sumner’s allegations. Again, though, Barker dismissed the accusations.

Barker’s daughter told police that her mother had a history of “hanging out with bad boys.”

Police learned that Barker and Sumner had been staying in an Anderson church’s basement prior to fleeing the state. In early March, the pair held a sale in front of the church. They sold vehicles and personal property.

On March 10, 2023, Barker quit her job at Payless and claimed she was heading to Maryland to be with her daughter. Instead, police said Sumner and Barker fled to North Carolina. They lived in Waynesville for roughly a month before being evicted due to failing to pay rent.

Sumner and Barker continued their lives on the lam until she was caught on Monday, and Sumner was at last caught by U.S. Marshals in Kentucky on Tuesday. Police said Sumner was alone when he was pulled over and taken into custody.

Barker is now also in custody, accused of harboring, concealing and otherwise providing assistance to Sumner “with the intent to hinder his apprehension.”

If convicted of a Level 5 felony, she faces up to six years in prison.