Former L.A. sheriff admits lying to FBI
Retired lawman may go to prison for obstructing federal investigation
LOS ANGELES — Former Los Angeles sheriff Lee Baca pleaded guilty Wednesday to lying to federal authorities investigating corruption in the department, a probe that tarnished his career and appeared to trigger his abrupt retirement.
Baca, a media-savvy lawman who used his platform as head of the United States’ largest sheriff’s department to travel the world touting progressive policing policies, had largely been out of sight since leaving office a year early, in January 2014.
He consistently dodged questions about any connection to the corruption even as former underlings pleaded guilty or were convicted. That changed Wednesday with the surprise announcement by federal authorities that the corruption went all the way to the top of the department and that Baca had finally agreed to take the fall.
Within hours, Baca was in a federal courtroom pleading guilty to a single felony count that could put him behind bars for up to six months. He faces sentencing on May 16.
Wearing a suit with a miniature sheriff’s star gleaming on his lapel, Baca, 73, answered a judge’s questions in a quiet voice. Outside court later, he chose to remain silent as reporters asked questions and his lawyer spoke for him.
Lawyer Michael Zweiback said Baca had a 50-year career in law enforcement, does a lot of good in the community and doesn’t deserve prison time.
In a brief typed state- ment signed “Lee Baca retired sheriff,” he said he had made a mistake and accepted being held accountable.
“This is not a day of celebration for us,” U.S. Attorney Eileen Decker had said earlier during a news con- ference. “It is a sad day when a leader of a lawenforcement agency fails to honour his oath and instead of upholding justice chooses to obstruct it.”
Baca signed a plea agreement that said he ordered deputies to intimidate an FBI agent and “do everything but put handcuffs on her.” Baca later lied to federal prosecutors and the FBI that he wasn’t privy to discussions about trying to derail the investigation into beatings by guards at a jail.
Baca, who ran the department for more than 15 years, had said he was out of touch with what was going on and denied knowing about efforts to stifle the probe by hiding an inmate who was an FBI informant. Baca avoided charges for years as prosecutors moved up the ranks to indict a number of offi- cers and, eventually, his second-in-command.
Last May, former undersheriff Paul Tanaka and another high-ranking member of the department were charged with obstructing justice.
Tanaka is facing trial, but his co-defendant, former Capt. Tom Carey, pleaded guilty and agreed to testify in related court proceedings. It’s not clear if that included providing testimony against Baca.
When Baca announced his abrupt retirement after 48 years at the sheriff’s department, he sidestepped questions about whether he was worried he might be indicted but acknowledged that more of his employees may face charges.
“I’m not afraid of reality. I’m only afraid of people who don’t tell the truth,” Baca said at the time.