Ex-LA County sheriff Baca faces retrial in corruption case
LOS ANGELES — Former Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca will be retried on obstruction of justice and other charges related to an effort by deputies and top department officials to derail an FBI investigation into violence in the nation’s largest jail system, prosecutors announced Tuesday.
A mistrial was declared last month when a federal jury deadlocked 11-1 in favour of acquittal on the obstruction count and a charge of conspiracy.
The trial scheduled for next month will also include a third count of lying to federal authorities.
Judge Percy Anderson had previously ordered a separate trial on that count after prosecutors said evidence of Baca’s early stage Alzheimer’s was only relevant to that charge and could harm their obstruction case.