LOS ANGELES (AP) - The Latest on the conviction of former Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca (all times local):
4:15 p.m.
Former Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca says he looks forward to winning on appeal after he was convicted of obstructing an FBI corruption investigation into his jails and lying to federal authorities.
Baca made a brief statement outside the federal court where the jury convicted him Wednesday. He’s not in custody ahead of a hearing to discuss sentencing Monday.
He said he loves the people of Los Angeles County and the jury system but disagreed with the verdict.
Baca’s attorney, Nathan Hochman, said the jury wasn’t able to consider all the evidence, but an appeals court will. He said Baca would prevail there.
Hochman didn’t specify what evidence he was talking about, but he tried to discuss at trial that the 74-year-old Baca is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease and the judge wouldn’t allow it.
Acting U.S. Attorney Sandra Brown says Baca “lied to cover up his crimes.”
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2:15 p.m.
Former Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca has been convicted of obstructing an FBI corruption investigation into his jails and lying to federal authorities.
A jury reached the verdicts Wednesday on charges that Baca conspired with underlings to hinder a probe into jail guards taking bribes and beating inmates and lied about his role in the conspiracy.
He could face 20 years in prison.
The 74-year-old, who’s in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, headed the nation’s largest sheriff’s department for 15 years before resigning in 2014 as the scandal grew.
Prosecutors said the corruption went from deputies all the way to the top. Baca’s lawyers said he gave no instructions to obstruct the FBI.
It was Baca’s second obstruction trial after another jury deadlocked 11-1 in favor of acquittal.
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