The former sheriff of Los Angeles County, Lee Baca, is now a prison inmate serving a three year bid in a West Texas prison facility.
The high profile 77-year-old sheriff was convicted of interfering with a federal investigation of his jail system, which was accused of being corrupted.
Baca reported to the low security, all-male prison La Tuna Federal Correctional Institution in Anthony, Texas, just outside of El Paso.
Once known for his campaign to end homelessness and advocate for positive mental health, Baca resigned from his post in 2014 amid several scandals involving the obstruction of a federal investigation into inmate abuse in Los Angeles County jails.
Under Baca’s reign, there were several cases of police brutality, denying inmates visitors, bribery, and violations of civil rights and department policies. Intimidation tactics were used against witnesses and officials investigating the instances.
In 2017, he was convicted and sentenced to three years in prison.
Baca made attempts to appeal the conviction, but the appeals were overturned by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. He also requested that the case be reviewed by the Supreme Court but was rejected.
Chief Deputy Paul Tanaka, who reported to Baca, was also convicted and sentenced to five years in prison. Over 20 guards involved in beating inmates were convicted, as well.
Baca served as a law enforcement officer for 50 years, only to end his career in a debacle of scandal.
