By Keyang Pang, Nick Ni
February 10, 2016 ǀ Reporting from Los Angeles
Federal investigations of Los Angeles county jail scandal had another big breakthrough on Wednesday. Former sheriff Lee Baca pleaded guilty to lying to federal authorities.
According to the plea agreement, Baca could face a maximum of six month in prison, said Michael Zweiback, Baca’s attorney. But he might be sentenced to probation without jail time as well. Sentencing was scheduled for May 16.
“Today’s charges and plea agreement demonstrate that illegal behavior in the Sheriff’s Department went to the very top of the organization,” said Eileen M. Decker, the U.S. attorney for the Central District of California.
The prosecution documents indicate that Lee Baca lied twice to the federal agent during FBI investigation of the inmate beatings in the county jail system.
In his written statement, Lee Baca admits he made a mistake, and accepts being held accountable.
