Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Delaney speaks to the news media after former Bakersfield Police Department detective Damacio Diaz was sentenced Monday in U.S. District Court in Fresno to five years in federal prison. Defendants could seek motions for a new trial or to withdraw pleas in some cases. But, no, they made me chubby or overweight [CHUCKLES] and hecka hella slow [LAUGHS] when you watch the movie. We were racing big races and trying to accomplish big things, so we looked at Mr. White as our dad. I still currently run. She changed her plans following her fathers indictment. In Boise, Idaho, 1987, Jim White and his title of coach is signifying his status as a . Diaz, a former Bakersfield police detective, is interviewed on camera in Killing County. The hearing included impassioned appeals by Diazs brother, wife and daughter, with the two latter witnesses in tears through much of their statements. [LAUGHS], Kevin Costner and Carlos Pratts in McFarland, USA. How often do you guys still train together with the new students? However, similar to the film, Jim White had never been a runner himself and used the bike to follow the team during their workouts. to know what it feels like to be Twitter. They were cross country state champs in 1987, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000 and 2001. All seven Diaz children went to college and all seven returned to McFarland where they live today. Would they flee bargain the same way with non-police criminals? Although, the brothers did say that the town hasnt really changed much, Coach White has noticed one big change. Damacio is related to Elizabeth Z Diaz and Delia G Garza as well as 3 additional people. He will have about two months to think about what comes next. director of photography Film Editing by David Coulson Casting By Sheila Jaffe Production Design by Richard Hoover He called it a fair sentence, under the circumstances, and rejected the suggestion that it was an example of dual justice: one set of standards for those viewed with favor by the system, and another set for those without resources or with no history of working in the criminal justice system. Ray was arrested in February 2020 and in April 2022, following a four-week trial, he was convicted on several counts. 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. You pick up any type of bug or any type of leaf, he knows what it is. Both are about to begin five-year federal prison sentences for their crimes. Raul was also a runner on the team when his sister was killed. They were very respectful and well-mannered towards him, treating him with much respect as we talked. Still, Williamson said, the corrupt detectives had eroded trust with the community. ONeill instructed Delaney to directly telephone the warden of the prison assigned to receive Diaz in order to help ensure the safety of the former cop who will soon find himself behind bars. What about the children? Thats why we had the sixth and seventh runner on a team. Did you ever do that again? 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. Ray referred to Felicia Rosario as his "wife," though they were never married. So, thats a big change. 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. These were the guys running in the California heat and winning state titles. When the informant left, the narcotics detective found just under $1,000 in the passenger-side door pocket. Amongst those to feature in this three-part original is law enforcement official turned convicted felon Damacio Diaz so now, if you wish to learn more about him, weve got you covered. 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. They are portrayed to be 15 and 10, a few years younger than they actually were at the time of the first state title in 1987 (the girls were in college at the time). DAMACIO DIAZ, by and through his counsel, DAVID A. TORRES, hereby submits Damacio Diaz' Statement in Mitigation for the court's consideration. Uh, it was 1988 and I was a senior at that time and my brother, Damacio, was a junior. Damacio Diaz - CA Cross Country results and photos on Athletic.net We dont have the big malls. Honestly, as we sat and talked with the Diaz brothers 3things were very apparent. In the least, such scenes seem to have been exaggerated by the filmmakers. . They are amazing guys who still have that humble hardworking attitude! Facebook gives people the power to. Former Bakersfield Police officers Damacio Diaz, 48, and Patrick Mara, 40, have been released from federal custody, according to the Board of Prison's website. On that day, Leopoldo became a man. 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. 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. The Feds arrested him at the department Friday morning and removed evidence. Five years in jail for a law enforcement officer thats still a serious sentence. Then they can do whatever they want. Damacio Diaz one of the three Diaz brothers depicted in the 2015 Disney film about the victorious Central Valley team admitted to lying on his tax returns and accepting bribes from an . All seven Diaz children ran for Jim White and all seven went on to . What is going on here is really outrageous, said criminal defense attorney Mark Geragos. We, we basically told our story, got interviewed for hours and hour and hours, and that was pretty much it. 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. country team. My parents definitely pushed us to go that route and not thewide road most people go to is other than college. His performance at the 1987 state meet did help McFarland lock up the title. And he did. Mara was released from a halfway house in April after serving a little less than four years in federal prison. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Since then, from what we can tell, the 50-year-old has chosen to retire and lead a comfortable yet quiet life in his home county of Kern; he hasnt moved anywhere. He says that Diazs loyalty to Magallanes would be his downfall. And sports is what kind of helped us get out of that. We run three, four, five miles a day just to stay in shape. Their mom and dad worked hard and pushed the boys even harder to succeed and do well. 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. However, it happened a little differently than in the movie. Thats because it comprises not only archival footage but also first-hand accounts of individuals closest to the matter to truly uncover this Californian citys merciless, violence-driven justice system. A full house of over three hundred gave a rousing standing ovation to Jim and his wife, Cheryl. They pocketed 4 pounds and turned in just a pound as evidence, officials said. SPONSORED LINKS Read More: Where are BPD Officers Aaron Stringer and Rick Wimbish Now? children ran for Jim White and all seven The ramifications of the corruption scandal could be large. Diaz will be sentenced for three federal counts on October 3rd. [Asking Danny referring to the last race of the first year]. 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. Jim White, David Diaz, Damacio Diaz and Danny Diaz for McFarland, USA. The relationship between the brothers and Coach White is endearing. 12, The real Jim White and wife Cheryl White actually have three daughters, Tami, Julie and Jami. Yes. Damacio Diaz, 43, was arrested on November 20, 2015 and charged with abusing his position of trust as a police detective when he conspired with and assisted a narcotics dealer in the operation of the dealer's drug organization. If I could beat their third, fourth, fifth man, sixth man whatever, I would add more points to them. Five years is much better than 17, from their point of view, and while prison time will be an ordeal for the one-time cop, everyone knew they had won something at least resembling a victory. Along with fellow BPD Detective Patrick Mara, 40, the two were sentenced to five years in federal prison. It was such a great experience. She argued that her husband has learned from his mistakes and should not face any prison time at all. 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. We run once in a whileamongst, DAVID DIAZ : ourselves. Our father never could ever go watch us race. But his chief is ready to turn his back. McFarland, USA (2015) Full Cast & Crew See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro Directed by Niki Caro Writing Credits Cast (in credits order) verified as complete Produced by Music by Antonio Pinto Cinematography by Adam Arkapaw . An elderly couple from Las Vegas were found dead earlier this month in Death Valley National Park, law enforcement officials said. The real Coach Jim White took both the boys and girls cross country teams to the California central coast beach at Cayucos during the 1985 season (not the 1987 season). Tom Sizemore dead at 61 after suffering brain aneurysm, Crews helping residents stranded by snow in Mariposa County, Home catches fire in snow-covered neighborhood in North Fork. Although, David did add that his mom is actually much more strict than she is made to bein the movie. In our case, you know, theres seven and my dad worked a lot of hours. "I can't say I was going to jump, but I was thinking about my life and why some people would jump. DANNY DIAZ : We, we love basketball. Posted on Published: February 18, 2015- Last updated: August 7, 2022. McFarland High School is actually just down the road from the Central Valley Correctional Facility, not across the street. The trio honestly had an unwavering determination in their efforts despite being mere teenagers at the time, and thats what eventually inspired the 2015 Disney sports drama film McFarland, USA. However, the former chose to pursue General Education as a field of study instead of focusing on his athleticism upon graduation because he apparently hoped to establish his career as a teacher. Diaz would quickly implicate Mara and then suggest others were making money too. Diaz, and father and mother Paul and All of us went to college. When I found out that it was Christian driven (truth !) JIM WHITE : Thomas. [CHUCKLES] And, and we didnt train and we got fifth that year. [CHUCKLES] And about two years ago, Mr. White, you help me pull? ", 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. No. I can't wait to see this movie! Atty. So, thatwas good. DAMACIO DIAZ : Mr. White might have more than us. They investigated every name that came up, uncovered every rock, and no one elses name came to light in their scandal, the chief said. Wife of public defender who died at Mexico resort speaks out. We were very happy that that was going to take place. Damacio Diaz, 48, is scheduled for release on May 10 while Patrick Mara, 40, is expected to be free on April 20, according to Federal Bureau of Prisons records. That is definitely true. Mr. White had a lot more influence in how this script was written. His attorney says he should be home for the holidays and then back in court in Fresno in January. Danny and Damacio run 3 to 5 miles a day to simply stay in shape. The. Silvia was 16 and Herlinda was 14. Silvia died on October 27, Herlinda on October 28. Coach Jim White Interview & the Diaz Family Looks Back, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile. High 61F. Their stories were told in a beautiful way and they are excited Disney picked their tale to tell. The three Diaz brothers featured in the new Disney movie, David, Damacio and Danny, all speak highly of both of their parents. [LAUGHS] And we dont have the big grocery stores. Coach Jim White (Kevin Costner) is the new We would like your email. My mom has 12. People Search Inspired by the irony of his last name, "Blanco" was one of the nicknames that the kids and their families gave Jim White. Diaz's wife Courtney painted a picture him as a strong Christian and dedicated family man who in her words 'became a lost soul alone in the dark' while undercover. But even worse, they say he tipped off the drug dealer when police might be coming his way, even giving the guy information from a secret wiretap. 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. [LAUGHS]. The love they genuinely have for him was heartfelt and true. And then Disney resigned us and got a better script writer. DAMACIO DIAZ : Us training together, maam? And so, its just a fun place to be. Newsweek has everything you need to know about what happened to Bakersfield cop Damacio Diaz and why. Not exactly. These guys are amazing and it was a pleasure meeting them and listening to them. For my son, it pushed him to go to college and do well while he was in high school. Yes. But even prosecutor Brian Delaney of the U.S. Attorneys Office seemed satisfied with Diazs ultimate sentence, a dozen years fewer than the minimum he had recommended. His wife and family, including a brother who works at McFarland high school, all supported him in court Friday afternoon. pic.twitter.com/qKxl7i5dfn. With Kevin Costner, Ramiro Rodriguez, Carlos Pratts, Johnny Ortiz. With nothing to do in their small town, kidshave two choices: education and sports or the streets. They work in the school system and believe in. PE teacher in McFarland, an economically DANNY DIAZ : That is true. Greens office reviewed 87 cases of the detectives involving 123 defendants before deciding to send the letters. Calif. 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. JIM WHITE : Let me add a little bit of that. White and many other family members and friends were in court to support Diaz. School. And when it was suggested Diaz could help rebuild the communitys trust in the police department if only he were allowed the freedom to do so, the judge pounced again, saying he didnt believe that trust damaged so severely by a person given such extraordinary powers could be fully restored. Atty. I used to take Damacio and some of hispeers. Let us send you our favorite posts and ideas once a week. CA. DAMACIO DIAZ : And if I can add to that. And underneath and this was given out to the high school and a high school girl came up with this logo Tradition, Unity, and Excellence. Magallanes then told another drug dealer to dump his phone. FEMALE : How McFarland had changed, um, now that the movies gone? Local photojournalist John Harte, who followed the team at the time, says that he witnessed opposing teams offer genuine handshakes of good luck. Damacio stated that they were very proud of the way the movie portrayed their story their family. Fun fact: Rafael Martinez, who plays David Diaz in the movie, is one of my closest friends even to this day! And thatsthe one we have now. He offers the kids a chance 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. The movie is based on the true story of a 1987 cross . And so, I cant keep up with my kids in high school [CHUCKLES], but I go with my little seven-year-old. Former McFarland cross-country coach Jim White and his wife, Cheryl, leave the U.S. District Court in Fresno Monday after his one-time runner, former BPD detective Damacio Diaz, was sentenced Monday to five years in federal prison. The DOJ said Diaz and Mara deliberately failed to submit seized drugs as evidence and instead provided the stolen narcotics to Carter. Low 44F. He had to take off to Stockton to, to be with his family with a family situation and he left us there to, to train on our own. Newsweek has everything you need to know about what happened to Bakersfield cop Damacio Diaz and why he is featured on Killing County. Damacio Diaz (R) and guest attend the Bakersfield Special Screening of "McFarland, USA" in Bakersfield, CA on Feb. 15th, 2015. It was indeed the first time that many of the kids ever saw the ocean. All the notoriety that theyre getting and what this man over here, Mr. White, our coach, has brought to not just our program but to our community. He did submit every kind of narcotics to evidence following each bust. 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. 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 . Both had their sentences reduced. And difficult to say what opportunities were missed or how much damage was done," said Benjamin Wagner, US Attorney. Many of White's former runners credit him with inspiring them to achieve personal and career goals they would have otherwise deemed impossible (People.com). A South Valley legend so popular he became the subject of a Disney movie has taken a hard fall. Right before interviewing Kevin Costner (see that here), we had the great privilege of interviewing the real life inspirations behind the new Disney film, McFarland, USA, Coach Jim White and the Diaz brothers, David, Damacio and Danny.They were so charming, and funny, and honest. We signed with this one company. Diaz, a 17-year Bakersfield cop, worked on 32 cases involving 53 defendants, with 20 requiring letters, she said. -KGET 17, Yes. We are no longer theHeartbeat of Agriculture. Diaz turned his back on those opportunities and broke the trust his community placed in him, violating the very laws he was sworn to enforce. Kevin Costner and others picking in the fields in McFarland, USA. My dad gives me a sense of security, she told the court. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. That the judge would even mention such a possibility underscored the unusual nature of the hearing. About $15,000 stuck out of Magallanes shorts. teacher. -Congressional Record, V. 146, Pt. I even performed the wedding service for Damacio Diaz . BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - - Damacio Diaz, 43, of McFarland, a detective with the Bakersfield Police (BPD) was arrested today, charged with abusing his position of trust as a police detective when he conspired with and assisted a narcotics dealer in the operation of the dealer's drug organization, announced United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner, FBI Special Agent in Charge Monica M. Miller . FRESNO Disgraced former Bakersfield Police Department detective Damacio Diaz was sentenced Monday in U.S. District Court to five years in federal prison a far more lenient sentence than prosecutors had urged for offenses including drug trafficking, taking bribes and lying on his tax return. Danny Diaz was not overweight, but he was the seventh runner on the team. As stated above, the real Jim White started teaching in the McFarland School District straight out of college in 1964. Former detective Patrick Mara was also. [CHUCKLES]. Damacio Diaz features in new Hulu documentary "Killing County. He would beat us up all the time. The story of McFarland started with a cross-country in the '80s. So, for us it was normal. Former narcotics detective Damacio Diaz has accepted a plea deal in connection with federal charges that could send him to prison for life. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; We are coming, sheriff says, Hidden, illegal casinos are booming in L.A., with organized crime reaping big profits, Look up: The 32 most spectacular ceilings in Los Angeles, This fabled orchid breeder loves to chat just not about Trader Joes orchids, Elliott: Kings use their heads over hearts in trading Jonathan Quick, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, Newsom, IRS give Californians until October to file tax returns, 12 reasons why Sycamore Avenue is L.A.s coolest new hangout, Best coffee city in the world? 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 assisted a narcotics dealer in the operation of the dea . Diaz and his partner, Patrick Mara, later admitted to ripping off drug dealers of their methamphetamine during traffic stops. All Rights Reserved. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) Damacio Diaz found himself on the other side of the law when he was convicted and sentenced for his role in selling drugs stolen from a Bakersfield Police Department evidence room. The highest homicide rate The most crime. DAMACIO DIAZ : The one that took off real fast, you know. Jim White moves his family after losing his last job as a football coach, and at his new school he turns seven disappointing students into one of the best cross-country teams in the region. This this file photo, former Bakersfield Police Department Detective Damacio Diaz and his wife, Courtney, and other family members and friends leave the U.S. District Court in Fresno after he was sentenced to five years in federal prison. 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.

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