Former Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca appeared in federal court in Riverside County Thursday to tell a judge if he planned to pay a pending $100,000 fine out as a result of a civil lawsuit that stems back to an inmate’s injuries in 2009.
The federal civil rights lawsuit brought by Tyler Willis alleged he was beaten by deputies with flashlights, punched, kicked and shocked with a Taser, resulting in fractures and head injuries, while he was awaiting trial on charges of lewd acts with a child. He was convicted of those charges.
In 2013, jurors found Baca, Capt. Daniel Cruz and deputies Anthony Vasquez, Mark Farino and Pedro Guerrero guilty of violating Willis’ rights. At the time, it was considered rare for a top law enforcement figure to be held personally liable for the action of his officers.
The parties agreed to pay $165,000 in punitive damages, which the defendants divided among themselves. Baca was to pay $100,000 — of his own pocket — but he appealed the fine and the issue has been pending since.
On Thursday, the deputies told U.S. Magistrate Judge David Bristow during a debtors hearing that they would pay their portion, said Samuel Paz, one of Willis’ attorneys. Baca was given until Feb. 17 to decided if he will pay the fine then, or continue the matter to another hearing.
Baca is expected to return to federal court in downtown Los Angeles Monday as part of a separate jail corruption scandal.
In December, a federal court judge declared a mistrial after a jury couldn’t decide unanimously if Baca was guilty of obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice. The charges stem from an investigation into inmate abuse inside the Men’s Central Jail in 2011. Federal prosecutors decided to retry him and opening statements are slated to begin later this month.
On Monday, two motions are expected to be argued including the defense’s position that double jeopardy applies and the two counts that were the subject of last year’s hearing should be dismissed. Meanwhile, federal prosecutor’s will argue their motion asking the judge to prohibit Baca from wearing a Sheriff’s ‘star’ lapel pin while he’s in court.
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