Closing Arguments Begin In Baca Corruption Trial
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Closing arguments began Monday in the federal corruption trial of former Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca.
During the trial, prosecutors argued Baca was the driving force behind a conspiracy to obstruct an investigation into abuses in his jail system.
The 74-year-old's attorneys argued his top aide, Paul Tanaka, and other underlings were to blame for the obstruction.
The six-man, six-woman jury could begin deliberating early this afternoon or Tuesday morning.
The former sheriff is being tried in downtown Los Angeles on conspiracy and obstruction of justice charges, which focus on a period of time five years ago at the Men's Central Jail.
Baca retired suddenly in 2014 at the height of the federal probe. He had been sheriff since December 1998.
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