The Latest: Ex-sheriff's attorney to ask for no prison time
LOS ANGELES (AP) - The Latest on former Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca's agreement to plead guilty to lying during a federal probe of corruption at the jails he ran (all times local):
4:15 p.m.
Former Los Angeles Sheriff Lee Baca's attorney says his client doesn't deserve prison time.
Michael Zweiback says Baca had a 50-year career in law enforcement and is involved in many projects helping people throughout the community.
The 73-year-old Baca pleaded guilty Wednesday to lying during a federal probe into beatings by deputies and corruption at the jails he ran. Zweiback says Baca pleaded guilty in order to move on and lift a cloud that had been hanging over the sheriff's department.
Baca says in a statement that he made a mistake and accepts being held accountable.
Prosecutors have agreed Baca should face no more than six months in prison when sentenced May 16.
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3:33 p.m.
Former Los Angeles Sheriff Lee Baca has pleaded guilty to lying to federal investigators during a probe into beatings by deputies at the jails he ran.
Baca acknowledged Wednesday in Los Angeles federal court that he lied during the FBI investigation.
Baca says he made a mistake and accepts being held accountable.
Prosecutors have agreed he should face no more than six months in prison when sentenced May 16.
Baca had long distanced himself from the corruption that tarnished his career. The conviction, however, confirms that he played a role in trying to thwart the FBI's civil rights probe.
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12:55 p.m.
Prosecutors agree that former Los Angeles Sheriff Lee Baca should face no more than six months in prison after taking part in efforts to intimidate an FBI agent investigating abuse by guards at the jail he ran.
Federal prosecutors say Baca agreed to plead guilty Wednesday to lying to investigators.
Baca signed a plea agreement that shows efforts to thwart an investigation into civil rights abuses at the jail and that corruption in the ranks extended to the top of the nation's largest sheriff's department.
Prosecutors say Baca could withdraw his guilty plea if the judge gives him a longer sentence. In that case, prosecutors would proceed to obtain an indictment.
Federal prosecutors say Baca took part in discussions to derail the investigation after they discovered an informant inmate was working with the FBI.
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12:10 p.m.
Former Los Angeles Sheriff Lee Baca says he took part in efforts to intimidate an FBI agent investigating abuse by guards at the jail he ran.
Federal prosecutors say Baca agreed to plead guilty Wednesday to lying to investigators in the probe that tainted his career.
Baca signed a plea agreement that shows efforts to thwart an investigation into civil rights abuses at the jail and that corruption in the ranks extended to the top of the nation's largest sheriff's department.
Federal prosecutors say Baca took part in discussions to derail the investigation after they discovered an informant inmate was working with the FBI.
Baca told deputies to threaten an FBI agent with arrest and do everything short of handcuffing her.
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10:48 a.m.
Federal prosecutors say former Los Angeles Sheriff Lee Baca has agreed to plead guilty to lying during a federal probe of corruption at the jails he ran.
U.S. Attorney Eileen Decker scheduled a news conference Wednesday to announce the agreement.
Baca retired amid the probe that found civil rights abuses by deputies and a cover up that led to charges against his second-in-command and nearly two dozen others.
Baca, who ran the department, has said previously that he wasn't aware of abuses at the jail or efforts by underlings to thwart an FBI probe by hiding an inmate informant.