By: Joel Rubin, Cindy Chang and Kate Mather
Baca’s attorney, Michael Zweibeck, said his client had agreed to plead to a single count as part of a deal with prosecutors that will see him spend no more than six months in prison.
As part of the deal, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will not pursue other charges against the former sheriff. A federal must sign off on the deal, Zweibeck said.
Baca retired in 2014 amid an FBI probe into misconduct and abuse in the nation’s largest jail system. So far, more than a dozen former sheriff’s officials have been convicted as a result of the wide-ranging investigation.
Earlier this week Sheriff Baca was spotted at the First AME church for a black history celebration.
Paul Tanaka has maintained consistently that he was following the orders of the Sheriff. Do you believe him now?
Paul Tanaka’s trial will begin March 22, 2016.
USA v. Tanaka and Carey, CR15-255
This case is before United States District Judge Percy Anderson (courtroom 15 on Spring St.).
Tanaka has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to go on trial on March 22. Carey pleaded guilty on August 19 and currently is scheduled to be sentenced on August 1. See: http://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/former-no-2-los-angeles-sheriff-s-department-charged-obstructing-federal-investigation
1 Comment
Having spent two years working with LASD as a volunteer, I have seen first hand a very strong policy of following the “chain of command”. Therefore, I do believe that Paul Tanaka was following orders. But, unfortunately, that doesn’t relieve him of guilt if he broke the law.