INGLEWOOD – An Inglewood detective was scheduled to be sentenced on federal drug trafficking charges on June 3, but according to documents in this case on May 16, the sentencing hearing is now set for July 8.
John Abel Baca, a 21-year employee of the Inglewood Police Department, pleaded guilty to stealing dope from the department’s property room to sell for personal gain.
Although his police powers were revoked, department insiders allege an internal affairs investigation was never initiated.
“The Court has read and considered the Stipulation to Continue the Sentencing Hearing and Related Dates, filed by the parties in this matter. The Court hereby finds that the Stipulation, which the Court incorporates by reference into this Order, demonstrates facts that support a continuance of the sentencing date in this matter.”
The document gives hard deadlines that need to be met before sentencing.
“Each party shall file, no later than June 17, 2024, either: (a) its initial sentencing pleading, containing its objections to the PSR (if any) together with its position regarding sentencing; or (b) a notice that the party has no objections to the PSR and has elected not to file a position regarding sentencing. b. Each party shall file, no later than June 24, 2024, either: (a) its response to the other party’s initial sentencing pleading, containing its responses to the other party’s objections to the PSR (if any) together with its responses to the other party’s position regarding sentencing; or (b) a notice that the party has elected not to file a response. c. No later than July 1, 2024, the USPPO shall prepare and provide to the parties and the court the final PSR together with an addendum addressing any objections to the PSR and the parties’ sentencing positions.”
Baca admitted to distributing cocaine on two separate occasions in 2021.
Baca gave cocaine to a cooperating witness, then gave a kilogram of cocaine to that same witness in exchange for $22,000, the DOJ said in a news release.
According to the plea agreement, in February 2021, the CW informed the FBI that Baca, then an active-duty IPD officer, previously had offered to sell the CW one kilogram of cocaine, two kilograms of “White China” heroin, and an unlimited supply of black tar heroin. The CW reported that Baca claimed to have stolen drugs and cash during routine traffic stops that Baca made as a drug task officer with IPD.
During a covertly recorded meeting in late April 2021, Baca provided a sample of the cocaine to the CW to provide to purported buyers. Several days later, Baca negotiated the price for one kilogram of cocaine – $22,000 in cash – and then delivered a brick of cocaine to the CW’s workplace on May 4, 2021. Later the same day, Baca collected $22,000 in cash from the CW’s residence.
In the plea agreement, Baca admitted that he abused his position of trust as a police officer, including by stealing drugs from IPD’s lock-up and reselling them.
“How Baca had unfettered access to the department’s property room and no one knew about is mind-boggling,” said a former Inglewood employee who declined to be named. “Why aren’t audits being performed on the contents in the property room?”
Inglewood Chief of Police Mark Fronterotta has made no public comments since the announcement Baca agreed to plead guilty.
Baca enjoyed a close relationship with Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts Jr.
Records show the “James Butts for Mayor 2014” campaign paid Baca $2,000 out of his campaign account. The payment was labeled as a “donation”. At the time Baca served as the Vice-President of the Inglewood Police Officers Association.
The mayor initially disputed that any payments were provided to Baca until he was provided with a copy of his campaign expenditure form.
“I don’t have control over who my campaigns pay,” said Butts, after reviewing the form.
All California Form 460s, which lists both contributions and expenditures for political campaigns, are required to be signed by the candidate. Butts has signed all forms associated with his multiple campaigns.
Baca faces a possible sentence of up to 20 years.
1 Comment
So many items to consider:
Since no comment has been made by the traditionally silent Police Chief regarding the lack of security of evidence over which he has responsibility at an extremely high rate of pay….Have there been policy changes so that evidence does not grow legs and walk away with others?
How many other, if any, long employed police city employees occassionally or routinely “take personal possession” aka steal items during or after traffic stops or bookings?
The Mayor James Butts early on claimed he had no knowledge of Baca receiving money as indicated in his own campaign statements which he signed….. are we then to conclude he does not read what he signs !!
Since residents are responsible financially for the contracts he signs ….how wise is it to let this man sign any contract we must pay for?
If Baca was head of the Police Union are we to believe his leadership was based on his convincing ability to lie to his supposedly well trained fellow officers? Or did some know and remain silent?
Or were some fellow -so -far -not- caught wrong doers?
If Baca is an example of one of our best, and for Police Chief Mayor Butts’ skill set challenge involving truth telling, along with several highly paid assorted employed in “created for other got in trouble police officers”…sorry to say and apologies to good decent law-following officers but the pre-existing auto-trust/respect some had (past tense) has little hope of recovery.
If Inglewood had a Hall of Shame… it would need a very large display.