Baca to plead guilty

[RickD427]

http://www.dailynews.com/opinion/201...t-is-it-enough





That last quote I totally disagree with. They make it sound as if it was the politicians at the top who were corrupted by their subordinates.

Pure HogWash. In both psyhics and politics, crap always runs downhill. Not up.

I was beginning to think that I would never agree with a posting by Pacrat, but the day has come.

It pretty common knowledge that Dr. Baca was quite aloof from his duties as Sheriff in his last term. Mr. Tanaka was very clearly running the operations of the department and was also clearly building a structure within the department to perpetuate his leadership role. I often wondered how much of the "Pandora's Box" operation was done at Baca's direction and how much was done at Tanaka's initiative.

Dr. Baca's statements make it pretty clear that he gave the direction both to hide Inmate Brown from his FBI handlers, and to send two LASD sergeants to the home of the investigating FBI agent to do a "tune-up" on the agent.

The departmental members involved in the secreting of Inmate Brown, and in the "tune-up" of the FBI agent received sentences up to 41 months.

The leader who gave the marching orders, and who served at the head of the organization is the most culpable of the bunch. The "floor" for his sentence should start at the 41 month point, with added time to reflect the added responsibility. It's fair to give a break for the plea-bargain. That happens all the time. But going from 41+ months down to six is simply too great of a break. It undermines the integrity of the process.

[oneill45]

when he had a fundraiser dinner one week then in the middle of the night the next week decide to step down as sheriff we knew he got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. i say i say we stomp him.... then we tattoo him.....

[micro911]

Maybe it was a felony that was plea bargained for misdemeanor.

[RickD427]

Maybe it was a felony that was plea bargained for misdemeanor.

It's not looking that way. But I don't have a PACER account and haven't seen the pleading documents.

However, Witness LA published a pretty detailed account of the events before Judge Anderson. The plea colloquy included all of the admissions relative to a felony conviction.

In the federal system, it's the penalty that you're liable to, not the penalty that you get, that determines if the offense is a felony or misdemeanor.

I'm assuming the charge is 18USC1001 from the descriptions published by the media. None that I have seen have listed the actual charge. The base penalty is 5 years (8 if terrorism is involved).

[CBR_rider]

"Baca would continue to collect almost all of his pension, currently $19,447.36, A MONTH." So then his fines should be set at about $19,446.36 a month for twenty years or so.... Since he won't be in prison and all..

[teg33]

"Baca would continue to collect almost all of his pension, currently $19,447.36, A MONTH." So then his fines should be set at about $19,446.36 a month for twenty years or so.... Since he won't be in prison and all..

You think so ? Less likely

[CBR_rider]

Oh, it's not likely..... but it was a lofty yet lesser hope than a long prison term for him.

[msternin]

It's not looking that way. But I don't have a PACER account and haven't seen the pleading documents.

However, Witness LA published a pretty detailed account of the events before Judge Anderson. The plea colloquy included all of the admissions relative to a felony conviction.

In the federal system, it's the penalty that you're liable to, not the penalty that you get, that determines if the offense is a felony or misdemeanor.

I'm assuming the charge is 18USC1001 from the descriptions published by the media. None that I have seen have listed the actual charge. The base penalty is 5 years (8 if terrorism is involved).

You are correct. The single felony count is 18USC1001(a)(2), non-terrorism, which according to 18USC3559(a)(4) is a Class D felony, to which he signed a plea agreement of guilty.

I have downloaded the agreement and case summary sheet from Pacer if you are interested.

[RickD427]

You are correct. The single felony count is 18USC1001(a)(2), non-terrorism, which according to 18USC3559(a)(4) is a Class D felony, to which he signed a plea agreement of guilty.

I have downloaded the agreement and case summary sheet from Pacer if you are interested.

Thanks much for the confirmation. No we all know what we're dealing with.

I'm sure that it's a sad day for Lee. He really made an effort to do the right things when he came into office, but it was also very clear that he didn't have the capability to properly utilize the organization to carry out his goals. Unfortunately he made his own bed on this one.

I still think the penalty is way out of sync with the sanction awarded to his subordinates who carried out his orders.

For those that would knock the LASD as being a corrupt organization, lets also remember that this whole issue of jail corruption came to light when a very honorable LASD commander (then serving as a Captain) was requested by Lee to give up a prestigious detective unit command and take over the operation of the Central Jail due to his leadership ability. Lee saw the problems developing, but he saw it way too late. At the same time, this was probably Lee's first view that the Undersheriff was taking over the department. The commander tried quite hard to resolve the issues he was responsible for, and when he found that he was unable to do so (and had become the proverbial pawn in the developing battle between the sheriff and undersheriff), the FBI became involved. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to connect the dots. The report of the special commission investigating the jail issues also lays things out quite well.

[Rico911]

Thanks much for the confirmation. No we all know what we're dealing with.

I'm sure that it's a sad day for Lee. He really made an effort to do the right things when he came into office, but it was also very clear that he didn't have the capability to properly utilize the organization to carry out his goals. Unfortunately he made his own bed on this one.

I still think the penalty is way out of sync with the sanction awarded to his subordinates who carried out his orders.

For those that would knock the LASD as being a corrupt organization, lets also remember that this whole issue of jail corruption came to light when a very honorable LASD commander (then serving as a Captain) was requested by Lee to give up a prestigious detective unit command and take over the operation of the Central Jail due to his leadership ability. Lee saw the problems developing, but he saw it way too late. At the same time, this was probably Lee's first view that the Undersheriff was taking over the department. The commander tried quite hard to resolve the issues he was responsible for, and when he found that he was unable to do so (and had become the proverbial pawn in the developing battle between the sheriff and undersheriff), the FBI became involved. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to connect the dots. The report of the special commission investigating the jail issues also lays things out quite well.

Bob Olmstead was cut from a diffrent cloth. The majority of LASD leadership eather turned a blind eye during the Baca/Tanaka reign or participated with the behavior and profited through promotions because of their loyalty. I'd say the most participated. They are still here.

[RickD427]

Bob Olmstead was cut from a diffrent cloth. The majority of LASD leadership eather turned a blind eye during the Baca/Tanaka reign or participated with the behavior and profited through promotions because of their loyalty. I'd say the most participated. They are still here.

I'll respectfully disagree. There were quite a few folks that saw the handwriting on the wall and tried to correct the course of action in a loyal way. A lot of those were either forced out early, or chose to leave the organization because their effectiveness suffered.

Bob was certainly an honorable man. He would have made an excellent sheriff. Let's also remember that he threw his name in the hat.

John Scott is one of the folks I mentioned. He didn't stay gone. When the time was right, he came back and did an outstanding job as Sheriff.

We also had a Division Chief retire during that time and then stayed on as a reserve deputy. When the time was right, he came back in what would otherwise be titled as the Undersheriff's position.

We had another Division Chief who felt the need to leave, and who did some great things for another police department in the county during his time away and who also came back as the current Chief of Staff.

The Sheriff's Department is a very large organization. It draws its members from the public. Because of that there will always be an endless supply of great leaders, and an endless supply of folks who fall short. The key is to build the organization such that the great leaders move up and those who fall short either grow in their abilities, or leave.

[hermosabeach]

I hope Tanaka has fun.....
snip from the story-


Tanaka is scheduled to stand trial in March for his alleged role in obstructing the federal investigation into the jails. In related cases, a retired sheriff's captain has pleaded guilty to lying under oath, and six other lower-ranking officials have been convicted of obstructing justice.

Baca's plea agreement does not require him to testify against Tanaka or anyone else, Decker said, but she declined to discuss the Tanaka case further.

[neomentat]

.... nevermind