header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
March 29
1928 - Little dam victim, thought unidentified & buried in SCV, actually ID'd & buried in Chatsworth [story]
Newhall Cowboys


By Matt Reynolds

A federal judge on Friday sentenced former Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca to three years in prison for obstructing a federal investigation, delivering a stinging rebuke to the official for trying to blame his closest aide and leverage a medical condition to avoid jail time.

U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson sentenced Baca after a jury convicted him in March of obstructing a federal investigation into corruption and civil rights abuses at two county jails through a scheme that involved hiding an FBI informant to prevent his testimony before a federal grand jury.

“This is a sad day for our community,” Anderson said, calling it “tragic” that Baca had fallen so spectacularly after leading one of the largest law enforcement agencies in the nation.

In addition to a 36-month sentence, Anderson ordered Baca to serve a year of probation and pay a $7,500 fine. Baca will surrender to authorities on July 25.

In arguments before Anderson delivered his verdict, Baca, wearing a blue-gray suit and striped tie, watched as his attorney Nathan Hochman urged the court to take into account the 74-year-old’s 48 years of public service, as well as his age and Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis.

Hochman described Baca as a progressive “visionary” who wanted to reform the jails, end homelessness and educate inmates and deputies.

Baca had “served with distinction, effectiveness and with all his soul,” Hochman said. He asked the court to sentence the former lawman to home detention or minimal time in jail.

But Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Fox noted that a “shameful era” of deputy-on-inmate abuse had occurred under Baca’s watch, and said he had “destroyed” the Sheriff Department’s reputation.

“He abused the power that was entrusted to him,” Fox said. “He hurt so many people along the way.”

Anderson acknowledged Baca’s years of public service but criticized his attempt to blame convicted Undersheriff Paul Tanaka, who is currently serving a five-year sentence. Baca and his legal team have consistently claimed Tanaka orchestrated the obstruction scheme and kept his boss in the dark.

But for Baca’s medical condition the court would have handed down the same five-year sentence to the former sheriff, the judge said.

“Mr. Tanaka was not some rogue deputy,” Anderson said. “You were all too happy to let people like Mr. Tanaka do your dirty work.”

Over six weeks in August and September 2011, Baca conspired with those under his command to thwart an investigation into inmate abuse at two jails by hiding inmate-informant and violent felon Anthony Brown within the jail system. The conspiracy began after jailers split apart a covert FBI operation into Men’s Central Jail and the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in the summer of 2011, after pulling a smuggled cellphone out of a Dorito’s bag from Brown’s belongings.

Anderson said that Baca had the power to call an end to the “misguided” and “clumsy” scheme which reached its nadir when deputies Scott Craig and Maricela Long approached FBI Agent Leah Marx outside her home and threatened her arrest.

“Your actions embarrass the thousands of men and women who put their lives on the line every day,” Anderson said.

The judge excoriated the official for suggesting in court papers that his Alzheimer’s disease was punishment enough, calling it an insult to the millions of people who suffer from the disease.

“Alzheimer’s disease is not a get out of jail card,” Anderson said.

Speaking outside the courthouse, Baca thanked his attorneys and his wife Carol Chiang but defended his actions, returning to a theme that his defense had presented over two trials: The introduction of a cellphone into the jails was a dangerous move by the FBI that could have jeopardized the safety of inmates and deputies.

“I will never accept a cellphone in a county jail given to a career criminal. I don’t care who puts it in,” Baca said outside the courthouse.

Acting U.S. Attorney Sandra Brown said the sentence showed no official is above the law.

“Rather than fulfill his sworn duty to uphold the law and protect the public, Lee Baca made a decision to protect what he viewed as his empire, and then he took actions in an effort to simply protect himself,” Brown said. “He wore the badge, but ultimately, he failed the department and the public’s trust.”

Anderson has presided over 10 cases connected to the scheme that has led to 21 convictions according to U.S. Attorney Office spokesman Thom Mrozek. Baca is the 10th member of the Sheriff’s Department convicted in the scheme.

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

3 Comments

  1. no name says:

    He should have been the first tried!

  2. no name says:

    He was responsible for the whole Department and should have been the first tried!

Leave a Comment


SCV NewsBreak
LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES
Thursday, Mar 28, 2024
April 16: FYI Seeks Volunteers To Pair With Local Foster Youth
Local nonprofit Fostering Youth Independence is seeking “Allies” to support Santa Clarita youth who are aging out of the L.A. County foster care system.
Thursday, Mar 28, 2024
California Announces $25 Million in Awards for Youth Mental Health
To support the mental health of California's young people, the California Department of Public Health awarded $25 million to 28 tribal and community-based organizations across the state.
Wednesday, Mar 27, 2024
California Launches New Youth Suicide Prevention Campaign
The California Department of Public Health launched the “Never a Bother” campaign, a youth suicide prevention public awareness and outreach campaign for youth, young adults, and their parents, caregivers, and allies.
Keep Up With Our Facebook

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
1928 - Little dam victim, thought unidentified & buried in SCV, actually ID'd & buried in Chatsworth [story]
Newhall Cowboys
Los Angeles County Public Works is updating the Los Angeles County Bicycle Master Plan.
April 16:  County Bicycle Master Plan Virtual Community Meeting
College of the Canyons mens golf got back on track during its return to conference play on Monday, carding a five-man score of 370 to top the eight-team field at Brookside Golf Course and maintain its unblemished conference mark.
Cougars Win Again, Keep Conference Streak
Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector, reminds property owners that the second installment of the 2023-24 Annual Secured Property Taxes becomes  delinquent if not received by 5 p.m. Pacific Time or United States Postal Service postmarked on or before Wednesday, April 10, 2024.
County Treasurer Reminds Property Owners of April 10 Due Date
Local nonprofit Fostering Youth Independence is seeking “Allies” to support Santa Clarita youth who are aging out of the L.A. County foster care system.
April 16: FYI Seeks Volunteers To Pair With Local Foster Youth
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health today unveiled the latest L.A. County Health Survey, which gathers vital data on health behaviors, conditions, neighborhood settings, and the needs of L.A .County residents, informing future public health policies and programs.
Public Health Unveils the 2023 L.A. County Health Survey Findings
Due to the projected rain forecast, Eggstravaganza will now be held indoors at the Canyon Country Community Center beginning promptly at 10 a.m. on March 30.
March 30: Eggstravaganza Now Being Held Indoors at Canyon Country Community Center
To support the mental health of California's young people, the California Department of Public Health awarded $25 million to 28 tribal and community-based organizations across the state.
California Announces $25 Million in Awards for Youth Mental Health
The College of the Canyons Athletic Department will host a dedication ceremony to unveil the Michele Jenkins Softball Team Room in honor of the longtime board member and ardent softball program supporter’s nearly 40 years of service to the district.
April 16: COC to Host Michele Jenkins Team Room Dedication Ceremony
PFLAG Santa Clarita has announced the establishment of the Peggy and Jeff Stabile PFLAG SCV Scholarship. The scholarship will provide financial assistance to LGBTQIA+ students pursuing higher education and committed to advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights and promoting diversity and inclusion.
PFLAG SCV Announces Stabile PFLAG Scholarship
1934 - Bouquet Canyon Reservoir, replacement for ill-fated St. Francis Dam & reservoir, begins to fill with water [story]
Bouquet Reservoir
The California Department of Public Health launched the “Never a Bother” campaign, a youth suicide prevention public awareness and outreach campaign for youth, young adults, and their parents, caregivers, and allies.
California Launches New Youth Suicide Prevention Campaign
The Santa Clarita Master Chorale invites the community to "Let the Sunshine In," a delightful evening of food, wine and song at the annual Cabaret & Cabernet fundraising benefit.
April 20: Santa Clarita Master Chorale’s Cabaret, Cabernet Fundraiser
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health cautions residents who are planning to visit the below Los Angeles County beaches to avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean waters:
March 27 Ocean Water Warning
As an integral ingredient necessary to help the Santa Clarita Valley to flourish, feedback from the business community is the secret sauce for achieving great things.
SCVEDC Asks For the Business Community’s Opinion on Santa Clarita
Raise your heart rate while raising funds for the Santa Clarita Sister Cities Dollars-for-Desks campaign to provide school desks for students in Sariaya, Santa Clarita's Sister City in the Philippines.
April 13: Sister Cities Zumba-thon Fundraiser
Remo, Inc. is is the world's leading manufacturer and developer of synthetic drumheads and shells. They’ve been in business for 60 years
SCVEDC Company Spotlight: Drumming Up Big Business with Remo, Inc.
California State Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo (D-Chatsworth) and Assemblyman James Ramos (D-Highland) have introduced AB 3074 the "School or athletic team names: California Racial Mascots Act."
Schiavo Introduces Bill to Prohibit ‘Derogatory’ School Mascot Names
Los Angeles County’s Justice, Care and Opportunities Department  in collaboration with Local Initiatives Support Corporation Los Angeles is proud to announce the 2nd Annual Pitch Competition for the cohorts of JCOD's Incubation Academy.
March 28: JCOD Incubation Academy Helps Grassroots Non-Profits For the Second Year
Children’s Bureau is seeking foster families and now offers two virtual ways for individuals and/or couples to learn how to help children in foster care while reunifying with birth families or how to provide legal permanency by adoption.
April 18: Children’s Bureau Hosts Virtual Orientation
The Sunburst track was constructed in 1887 by the Southern Pacific Railroad and was a part of the main line running between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Enjoy Spring With a Ride On The Sunburst Track
California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond hosted a Personal Finance Summit today where he announced his support for Assembly Bill 2927 (McCarty), legislation that would require a personal finance education course for California high school graduation.
State Superintendent Announces Support for Personal Finance Graduation Requirement
1847 - Probable birth date of Pico Canyon oil driller Charles Alexander Mentry [story]
C.A. Mentry
SCVNews.com