Ex LA Sheriff Heading to Federal Prison

A federal appeals court upheld the conviction for former Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals stated that Baca received a fair trial which ultimately ended in his conviction for corruption and lying to federal investigators. Baca was sentenced to three years in federal prison.

His attorneys filed a request for reconsideration of the merits. The Ninth Circuit rejected the request maintaining Baca’s convictions. Baca, who is now 76 years old, was denied using his early stages of Alzheimer’s disease as a defense to explain his deprivation of memory. The appeals court agreed that putting on such a defense would be speculative and confuse the jury of the ultimate issues.

A jury convicted Baca in 2017 for obstruction of justice and lying to investigators. His prison sentence has been stayed pending the outcome of his appeal. The only option for Baca is to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

For more information or if you need to consult with an experienced Newport Beach federal crimes attorney, then contact the Law Offices of John D. Rogers to schedule a free consultation.