Its a poor community. 1999 - 2000 And he told me I want them to get their education, so I will go back and get my education. PDF IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT of - KERO I didn't want to go home," says Thomas. Coach Jim White and his wife, Cheryl, with team member Thomas Valles at the 1987 California Southern Area cross country meet at Hart Park in Bakersfield. He told me to take my wife out on a date or buy my kids something, Diaz would later recall in court papers. Though according to Damacios own account in the Hulu production, his dreams and aspirations took a complete turn once he witnessed some adrenaline-pumping, actual police work first-hand. Did you ever do that again? 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. FRESNO, Calif. Damacio Diaz, 44, of McFarland, formerly a detective with the Bakersfield Police Department, was sentenced today to five years in prison for bribery, possession and attempted possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and making and subscribing a false income tax return, Acting United States Attorney Phillip A. Colin Kaepernick's new three-part true crime docuseries, which premieres on Hulu Friday, Feb. 3, tells the story of alleged corruption and cover-up that happened at a police department in a . As stated above, the real Jim White started teaching in the McFarland School District straight out of college in 1964. Girl, 13, Went Missing Last Week, and Suspect Is Arrested on . Both girls were on this trip to a meet in Santa Maria and the beachs, and these photos are from Silvia's album, which her family had saved. Likely not. In a remarkable statement made before reporters Friday, Kern County District Attorney Lisa Green said her office will mail out 64 letters to d, Positive Cases Among Kern Residents: 310,095, Recovered and Presumed Recovered Residents: 305,002, Percentage of all cases that are unvaccinated:71, Percentage of all hospitalizations that are unvaccinated:83.13, Source: Kern County Public Health Services Department. Interview with Jim White and the Diaz Brothers for McFarland, USA The film is based on a true story, about how American cross country coach James "Jim" White coached the team of Hispanic kids at McFarland High School, from nobodies to mysteries to the racing community. DANNY DIAZ : Absolutely. Now that he's cooperating with authorities, he has allegedly implicated others in the department, including his former partner . Former narcotics detective Damacio Diaz has accepted a plea deal in connection with federal charges that could send him to prison for life. Delaney was the prosecutor in the case. I cannot thank all of the people involved enough for bringing this story to us. More than 100 convictions were overturned as a result. and last updated 2016-10-03 21:34:05-04. The love they genuinely have for him was heartfelt and true. Damacio Diaz: Where is the Former Detective Now? His wife and family, including a brother who works at McFarland high school, all supported him in court Friday afternoon. The corruption scandal broke in November 2015 when federal agents arrested Bakersfield Police Detective Damacio Diaz for helping traffic methamphetamines. They talk about being inspired to strive for something beyond picking in the fields. But he encouraged us to play sports. It was back in 1987 when Damacio Diaz inadvertently became a local celebrity of sorts owing to the way he built McFarland High Schools winning cross-country dynasty alongside his two brothers. Though it is very close, Jim White likely wouldn't have had a clear view of it from his classroom window, as a street of homes separates the school's athletic fields from the prison grounds. He was a fifth grade teacher and before he was a P.E. True Crime news & latest pictures from Newsweek.com He did a lot of things for us that our dad couldnt, becauseit financially just wasnt available. DANNY DIAZ : east from McFarland, Mr. White here would take us to the hills. All three girls graduated with degrees in education from Lubbock Christian University in Lubbock, Texas; Tami in 1985, Julie in 1988, and Jami in 1991. So that was my experience for the first time at state having the pressure. The student thus enrolled at California State University-Fresno while changing his major to Criminology as well as Military Science (1992-1996) before deciding to acquire training on the job. Im a runner. Damacio Diaz was a Bakersfield police detective who was sentenced to five years in prison in October 2016 for stealing drugs to put back onto the street. Each one of the brothers are land owners in McFarland. As well as accepting illegal bribes, Diaz engaged in drug trafficking while with the BPD. JIM WHITE : Let, let me add one thing to that. Greens office reviewed 87 cases of the detectives involving 123 defendants before deciding to send the letters. Its hard to understand how he could do both.. Primary filming took place in McFarland, California in 2013. We run once in a whileamongst, DAVID DIAZ : ourselves. She changed her plans following her fathers indictment. His attorney says he should be home for the holidays and then back in court in Fresno in January. The Diaz brothers represent 3 of the 7 runners from the McFarland Cross Country team of 1987. Um, Im running my first half marathon soon, and, um, I just wanna know are those hills what you really trained on? Yet this fraud used his position for gain and greed. We love our dad. It was really an honor. Coach White concurred and said their mom even asked why they didnt make her strict enough. He advised her to first trust in God, as the Almighty, he said, is not subject to the weaknesses and failings of humankind. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. The United States Attorney's Office said Diaz continued to operate the informant "even though he was fully aware of the informant's ongoing criminal activity and, during this time, Diaz received bribes from the informant in return for intelligence on law enforcement activities as well as protection from investigation and arrest.". And sports is what kind of helped us get out of that. DAMACIO DIAZ : Mr. White might have more than us. But this is gonna be a family movie, so it is okay. Thats what they wanted to do and Im just excited to be included in the movie. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph.. Thats why we had the sixth and seventh runner on a team. 6:40 p.m. Oct. 25, 2016: A previous version of this article said the district attorneys office reviewed 108 cases involving the detectives. How often do you guys still train together with the new students? Facebook gives people the power to. May God BLESS you all richly. DAMACIO DIAZ : Yeah, were very, very proud of the way the movie portrayed us, our family. Included in the segment, titled That decision also rocked the Kern County criminal justice system, marking the beginning of an ugly police corruption scandal involving cash, drugs and protection. Hes a pretty good coach, too. Federal authorities say 43-year-old Damacio Diaz took bribes from a narcotics dealer, and, in exchange, provided the names of police informants, gave details of law enforcement investigations, and tried to protect him from arrest. How did that impact your lives during high school to move on in the future? She is preceded in death by her husband Damacio Diaz. If they took statements, seized evidence or wrote reports, we will be sending letters to defense attorneys or defendants that represented themselves, she said. Defense attorneys compared the Bakersfield situation to the Los Angeles Police Departments Rampart scandal in the late 1990s, in which corrupt officers tainted cases. The highest homicide rate The most crime. Former Bakersfield police detective Damacio Diaz was sentenced Monday in federal court to five years in prison.He pleaded guilty earlier this year to charges. Local photojournalist John Harte, who followed the team at the time, says that he witnessed opposing teams offer genuine handshakes of good luck. "I was standing there. Disgraced former BPD officers Damacio Diaz and Patrick Mara - KGET 17 However, he did rebuild the boys and girls cross country programs from the ground up. 'McFarland USA' runner Damacio Diaz gets prison - The Mercury News Sports in high school can make or break a young man. Now college is very encouraged, but back in the dayI wouldnt say that a fifth of the folks in high school ended up [finishing], especially folks of our color and our culture. DANNY DIAZ : Yeah, if you drive600 miles out . And then Disney resigned us and got a better script writer. Carter would then could sell those narcotics for profit. Four years ago on a sweltering afternoon, Bakersfield Police Det. Mara was released from a halfway house in April after serving a little less than four years in federal prison. In a tweet promoting the documentary, the star mentioned the high homicide and crime rates in Bakersfield, calling the series a "thriller set in Kevin McCarthy's district," in reference to House Speaker McCarthy, whose congressional district includes parts of Bakersfield. Damacio Diaz, photo courtesy of Mama Latina Tips. And we were part of the Royal Rangers andwe did that on Tuesday nights at our local church. 'McFarland USA' Hero Arrested For Conspiring With Drug Dealer DAVID DIAZ : So, it helps you running wise and mentally wise, as well, because you have to endure that steepness, if you will. What happened to Damacio Diaz? Bakersfield cop seen in 'Killing County' Thanks! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. So Im always looking out for their kids. The district attorneys office is prepared to retry the cases if necessary, Assistant Dist. Plus I love Kevin Costner! By Laura Donaldson On 2/3/23 at 8:00 AM EST Damacio Diaz, 44, of McFarland, formerly a detective with the Bakersfield Police Department, was sentenced today to five years in prison for bribery . Atty. But, yes, I did that. A lot of us competed in college. Damacio Diaz, former BPD detective who stole drugs and put them back on the street, released from custody Many of the citizens of McFarland were extras in the movie. Diaz was charged with assisting a drug dealer and providing him with names of police informants, and with trafficking drugs that had been seized for evidence. Yes. He went back and got it. I never had pressure. I still currently run. They talk about being Damacio Diaz - Address & Phone Number | Whitepages Low 44F. Damacio Diaz, 44, was sentenced Monday for bribery, possession and attempted possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and making and subscribing a false income tax return,. We then wanted to know, "How much, if any, input did you have to have on the filming and the making the movie?Damacio Diaz: Mr. White might have had more than us. That was the only thing really that they had thats available to show that type of work [for the movie]. Damacio Diaz features in new Hulu documentary "Killing County. MCFARLAND USA: An Interview with Legendary Coach Jim White Prosecutors are specifically reexamining cases from 2011 to 2014, when the partners were committing crimes. Kevin Costner and others picking in the fields in McFarland, USA. That was something that we did since we were third, fourth, fifth graders and by the time we got to college and were now training and, and running and living our lives with Mr. White some of us traveled out of the state, out of the country with Mr. White it became something that was gonna help us get out of our environment, and it did. Talbert said that we concluded no officers were complicit in joining Diaz and Mara, and that no further prosecutions were planned at this time. Diaz, a former Bakersfield police detective, is interviewed on camera in Killing County. We, we basically told our story, got interviewed for hours and hour and hours, and that was pretty much it. Eugenia Diaz Obituary (1918 - 2012) - San Antonio, TX - San Antonio They were very respectful and well-mannered towards him, treating him with much respect as we talked. Now, local prosecutors say the scandal jeopardizes other criminal cases. Bakersfield. Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. See more stories in. The relationship between the brothers and Coach White is endearing. Damacio seemingly prefers to stay well away from the spotlight these days, but we do know the family man tied the knot with his long-term partner, teacher Courtney Diaz, on January 26, 2021. Coach Jim White and his wife, Cheryl, with team member Thomas Valles at the 1987 California Southern Area cross country meet at Hart Park in Bakersfield. Delaney acknowledged that Diaz provided information that was helpful in bringing charges against his former police partner, Patrick Mara, whose own sentencing is scheduled Oct. 17. Diaz initially became well-known after the release of 2015 Disney movie, McFarland USA, starring Kevin Costner.. JIM WHITE : Ive done it quite often. The former BPD official apparently knew what he was doing wasnt right in any way, shape, or form, yet he couldnt find a way out as there was no one he could approach for help, as per the docuseries. His viewpoint of not changing too much from that aspect I see a definite change. Learn more about the McFarland, USA true story by watching the Jim White interview below. And thatsthe one we have now. Magallanes then told another drug dealer to dump his phone. In Boise, Idaho, 1987, Jim White and his title of coach is signifying his status as a . Both are about to begin five-year federal prison sentences for their crimes. Former detective Patrick Mara was also implicated in the same crime. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. We have changed our city logo. According to the California Department of Justice, Diaz and Mara conspired with another man, Noel Carter, 46. -John Harte, Yes, and at times the White family paid for new shoes and clothing for the team out of their own pockets. 17 Damacio Diaz Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images FILTERS CREATIVE EDITORIAL VIDEO 17 Damacio Diaz Premium High Res Photos Browse 17 damacio diaz stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. They spoke often of God and their church, as well as the work they do there. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Vida en el Valle file Daniel Casarez. There is no shame in admitting that this case has kept me awake at night, and few do, ONeill said to the packed courtroom. FRESNO, Calif. Damacio Diaz, 44, of McFarland, formerly a detective with the Bakersfield Police Department, pleaded guilty today to bribery, possession and attempted possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and making and subscribing a false income tax return, Acting United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. Bakersfield Police Corruption Scandal Could Have Wide Impact Diaz became well-known after being portrayed in the 2015 Disney movie, McFarland USA, starring Kevin Costner, about the transformation of a running team in McFarland. Thomas Valles went on to become a prison guard (LA Times). JIM WHITE : Thomas. Scott Spielman said. Second, he expressed sympathy regarding the educational quandary in which she finds herself. Posted on Published: February 18, 2015- Last updated: August 7, 2022. And difficult to say what opportunities were missed or how much damage was done," said Benjamin Wagner, US Attorney. I feel like if hes gone, I wont have anyone, said Diazs daughter Caroline, a student at Bakersfield College who had originally planned to attend UCLA. You have permission to edit this article. And it didnt. They couldve chosen any other team, because we have nine state titles. They also plan to seize about $50,000 in cash and a home in an exclusive McFarland neighborhood. Members of McFarland's Diaz family reflect BAKERSFIELD, Calif. A former Bakersfield Police detective, serving time in prison for his role in a drug ring, has been released. Damacio stated that they were very proud of the way the movie portrayed their story their family. So the only way I could get some of them into some of the fields that I had to do the work with them. We [LAUGHS], we played basket. Wife of California doctor who drove family off cliff in Tesla doesn't want him prosecuted . My mom has 12. Uh, it was 1988 and I was a senior at that time and my brother, Damacio, was a junior. It was at the Bakersfield Police Department that Damacio was able to rise the ranks in the way hed always desired going from patrol operations to serving at several high-profile units. Mara, a 13-year veteran, had 55 cases involving 70 defendants. The Feds said Diaz was cheating the system in several ways -- for one, by stealing cash for drug buys or stealing the drugs from drug buys. We basically told our story, got interviewed for hours and hour and hours, and that was pretty much it. DAMACIO DIAZ : The one that took off real fast, you know. It was a huge fall from grace for Diaz, who was well known in the Central Valley as being a member of the high school cross-country running team portrayed in the 2015 Disney movie McFarland, USA.. We dont have the big malls. Damacio Diaz is one of the subjects of new Hulu documentary Killing County. Damacio Diaz, former BPD detective who stole drugs and put - YouTube And, uh, low and behold, Mr. White, during Thanksgiving break, uh, when we have no school, he had an emergency. He also was indicted on charges of disclosing wiretap information to a criminal partner, interfering with a criminal investigation, and other felonies, but those charges were dismissed in the plea agreement. Danny Diaz was not overweight, but he was the seventh runner on the team. These guys are amazing and it was a pleasure meeting them and listening to them. The Department of Justice said Diaz and Mara would deliberately fail to submit seized drugs as evidence and instead would give them to Carter, who would sell them for profit. Damacio Diaz Profiles | Facebook [LAUGHS]. His partner, Patrick Mara, admitted to selling methamphetamine. Former detective Patrick Mara was also. [CHUCKLES] When we were growing up, maybe seven, eight, nine, ten thousand people is the population. In a highly charged hearing packed with family members and supporters of the former cop, U.S. District Judge Lawrence ONeill indicated during the nearly two-hour hearing that the case was among the most difficult and emotional hes encountered in all his years on the bench. February 3, 2023, 11:49 PM Part of the docu-series focuses on former Bakersfield Police Officers Damacio Diaz and Patrick Mara. Sunny to partly cloudy. That year, Mara filed for bankruptcy and said he was drinking heavily. under Coach Jim White at McFarland High This included members of the Bakersfield High Drillers. All seven Diaz children went to college and all seven returned to McFarland where they live today. Coach White concurred and said their mom even asked why they didn't make her strict enough. On one occasion, Mrs. Diaz made 200 dozen tamales to send the team to Asia. Four years ago on a sweltering afternoon, Bakersfield Police Det. The former police officer was subsequently sentenced to five years in federal prison, just to be released days early from a halfway house in Sacramento, California, on May 8, 2020. It depends on the circumstances. White and many other family members and friends were in court to support Diaz. We maybe started school but hardly any of us finished. How is the district attorney going to oppose any motion for a new trial when these investigators have admitted to such rogue behavior? said Ben Meiselas, who is representing several families suing the Bakersfield police, included a man shot while allegedly an informant for Mara. Jim White restarted the program in 1980 after it had been dropped for a year. In 2018, another man, Noel Carter, from Bakersfield, pleaded guilty to conspiring with Diaz and Mara to distribute drugs, according to federal prosecutors. No. Back then, McFarland was largely white demographically. And we try to trip him up on that, and hes very smart in that regard. DANNY DIAZ : That is true. A look at the real "McFarland USA" kids and coach Jim White In fact, a blink of an eye as you drive down Highway 99 in California and you will miss it. 'Killing County' features former BPD officers . The movie is based on the true story of a 1987 cross country team, that Diaz was a member of, from a mainly Latino high school in McFarland, California, that won a state championship. Danny Diaz, daughter Delia Diaz, Gabriel How much or any input did you have to have on the filming, the making the movie? We are no longer theHeartbeat of Agriculture. Information from: The Bakersfield Californian, http://www.bakersfield.com. Fun fact: Rafael Martinez, who plays David Diaz in the movie, is one of my closest friends even to this day! So, it was a big deal for us. A 1997 LA Times article described it as a rickety, worn bicycle, but did not state that it was a girl's bicycle like in the movie. victor puentes mcfarland He would beat us up all the time. That streak ended while the movie was in production, after the small school was elevated to Division I status, a byproduct of their success. We shouldve had first. Theyre looking out for my kids and were trying to police each other, because its very easy to get distracted and go way off course. An interview with Jim White, David Diaz, Damacio Diaz and Danny Diaz ", Colin Kaepernick pictured at the NBA game between the Toronto Raptors and the Boston Celtics at Scotiabank Arena on December 5, 2022 in Toronto, Canada. DANNY DIAZ : We, we love basketball. A previous version of this article said the district attorneys office reviewed 108 cases involving the detectives. He got into the truck and began to talk with Coach White about his difficulties at home. Diaz will be sentenced for three federal counts on October 3rd. Partly cloudy this evening followed by increasing clouds with showers developing after midnight. Juanita Diaz. And so, we were just happy that Disney stuck with that first year and were lucky to be in the movie. Disgraced cop's 5-year sentence a fraction of prosection's recommendation, Corrupt cops compel Kern DA to inform defense attorneys about 'tainted' cases. Silvia died on October 27, Herlinda on October 28. Learn how your comment data is processed. The Real Life Inspirations Jim White, David Diaz, Damacio Diaz & Danny It taught you discipline. So, for us it was normal. Disgraced detective whose story was told in 'McFarland USA' gets prison FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The charges against Damacio Diaz have people in his hometown in disbelief. All seven Diaz children ran for Jim White and all seven went on to . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Diazs attorney, David Torres, was clearly relieved by the judges decision. it's not all true but he's okay with that. [LAUGHS], Kevin Costner and Carlos Pratts in McFarland, USA. What Happened to Damacio Diaz? It reviewed 87 cases. All opinions expressed are my own. Where Is Damacio Diaz Now? 'Killing County' Catches up With Him Inspired by the irony of his last name, "Blanco" was one of the nicknames that the kids and their families gave Jim White. On October 3, 2016 Diaz was sentenced to five years in prison for bribery, possession and attempted possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and making and subscribing a false income tax return. Damacio Diaz, 43, of McFarland, a detective with the Bakersfield Police Department was arrested today, charged with abusing his position of trust as a police detective when he conspired with and . Now we are a runner running through the field, a figure silhouette of a runner. Two corrupt cops joined forces with drug dealers. Now, dozens of Diaz, who has been allowed to remain free throughout the process, cooperated fully with investigators, according to the prosecution. He gave them information to clean up the department, said his lawyer, David Torres, in an interview. They appeared happy to be with us, and they enjoyed sharing their behind the scenes stories about the . Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. It is a day I truly regret and a decision that has changed my entire life.. If one or two of those boys couldn't make practice at four o'clock 'cause they're just gettin' in from work, then I might practice at 6 or 7 o'clock with those boys. Davids the oldest and he was a bully. Diaz was a Tulare county sheriffs deputy years ago, but he's been at the Bakersfield police department for 17 years, the last four as a narcotics detective. experience coaching the team. He pleaded guilty earlier this year to charges he. These I was able have an interview with Jim White and the Diaz brothers (David Diaz, Damacio Diaz and Danny Diaz) who are the real life inspirations behind the McFarland, USA film. Known as @lacrimes on Twitter, during almost 30 years at The Times he also has been part of the breaking news staff that won Pulitzers in 1998, 2004 and 2016. SPONSORED LINKS Yeah, yeah, yeah. These I was able have aninterview with Jim White and the Diaz brothers (David Diaz, Damacio Diaz and Danny Diaz) who are the real life inspirations behind the McFarland, USA film. Disgraced former Bakersfield Police Department detective Damacio Diaz, one of the real-life heroes of the movie "McFarland USA," was sentenced Monday in U . Damacio Diaz, former BPD detective who stole drugs and put - KGET 17 Former Bakersfield Police Department Detective Damacio Diaz with his wife, Courtney, and their children leaving U.S. District Court in Fresno after his 2016 sentencing.
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