As, as hes retired. With Kevin Costner, Ramiro Rodriguez, Carlos Pratts, Johnny Ortiz. 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. Public corruption takes a heavy toll on our communities, and our office remains committed to prosecuting such conduct.". Our third man, Jose, he just-. 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. Oh, its more than an indiscretion, he said. The most police executions. This included members of the Bakersfield High Drillers. My parents definitely pushed us to go that route and not thewide road most people go to is other than college. To make up for the time they couldn't work in the fields due to cross country practice, Jim White would sometimes give his time to them by helping them pick in the fields. The movie is based on the true story of a 1987 cross . DAMACIO DIAZ : The one that took off real fast, you know. The story of McFarland started with a cross-country in the '80s. The multi-part documentary is coming to the streaming platform on February 3 and includes first-person interviews with individuals and families plagued by gun violence, officer-involved homicides and other crimes in Bakersfield and Kern County, California. 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. JIM WHITE : Let, let me add one thing to that. Diaz and his partner, Patrick Mara, later admitted to ripping off drug dealers of their methamphetamine during traffic stops. Whether it be Burglary, Financial Crimes Detail, Homicide, Narcotics Investigations, Sexual Assault, Special Enforcement (Gang), or Vice, he worked in every department at one point or the other. Diaz then began cooperating with federal investigators and named other cops he said were corrupt. We [LAUGHS], we played basket. children ran for Jim White and all seven According to Torres, the federal system will keep Diaz behind bars for more than four years before he becomes eligible for release. Both are about to begin five-year federal prison sentences for their crimes. I never had pressure. Talbert said that we concluded no officers were complicit in joining Diaz and Mara, and that no further prosecutions were planned at this time. Where are Damacio and Patrick now? Read More: Where are BPD Officers Aaron Stringer and Rick Wimbish Now? 12, The real Jim White and wife Cheryl White actually have three daughters, Tami, Julie and Jami. And we I took them to the fields because I was looking for workers to try to get us some income so we can go to Oregon and we can go to San Jose and we can put shoes on their feet. 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. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Delaney, who prosecuted the case against former Bakersfield Police Department Detective Damacio Diaz, is shown here in this file photo following the Oct. 3 sentencingat U.S. District Court in Fresno. Damacio Diaz, 44, of McFarland, formerly a detective with the Bakersfield Police Department, was sentenced today to five years in prison for bribery . Defense attorneys compared the Bakersfield situation to the Los Angeles Police Departments Rampart scandal in the late 1990s, in which corrupt officers tainted cases. And so, its just a fun place to be. FRESNO, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) Former Bakersfield police detective Damacio Diaz was sentenced Monday in federal court to five years in prison. Diaz was released from prison in May 2020. gun violence, officer-involved homicides and other crime, Colin Kaepernick is an executive producer, Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. However, he did rebuild the boys and girls cross country programs from the ground up. DANNY DIAZ : Absolutely. The community of McFarland still works as a village to raise their youth. Soon Diaz and Mara were getting into other illegal activities, authorities said. 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. Acting U.S. Atty. Delaney was the prosecutor in the case. -LA Times. Diaz, a former Bakersfield police detective, is interviewed on camera in Killing County. Some, like David Diaz, became teachers themselves. 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,. But if it werent for sports our kids would be lost, because its either education and sports or the streets. This one looks awesome, can't wait to see it. But thats okay. I didnt enjoy it very much. The Feds arrested him at the department Friday morning and removed evidence. The highest homicide rate The most crime. She was amazing in the movie. DANNY DIAZ : Im trying to be nice here. All Rights Reserved. Kevin Costner and others picking in the fields in McFarland, USA. It was indeed the first time that many of the kids ever saw the ocean. However, he had been a teacher in the McFarland School District since 1964, following his graduation from Pepperdine University. 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. Damacio Diaz, 43, of McFarland, California, a detective with the Bakersfield, California, Police Department (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 U.S. Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner of the Eastern District of California . Eguenia was best described by many that Diazs loyalty to Magallanes would be his downfall. A South Valley legend so popular he became the subject of a Disney movie has taken a hard fall. Yes. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Delaney shakes hands with former Bakersfield Police Department detective Damacio Diaz in this file photo from Diaz's Oct. 3 sentencing. Atty. Still, Williamson said, the corrupt detectives had eroded trust with the community. Did you ever do that again? McFarland High School is actually just down the road from the Central Valley Correctional Facility, not across the street. We would like your email. The Diaz brothers represent 3 of the 7 runners from the McFarland Cross Country team of 1987. Diaz pleaded guilty last spring as part of a plea agreement that became public in May. Back then, McFarland was largely white demographically. Former detective Patrick Mara was also. Diaz did a lot of good things, Delaney said. Mara was released from a halfway house in April after serving a little less than four years in federal prison. It taught you discipline. So we have a lot of uncles and everybody has a lot of kids. Would they flee bargain the same way with non-police criminals? But he encouraged us to play sports. 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). "Niki Caro wanted to show more family in the movie so they chose me," says the real David Diaz, who actually graduated during the school year before the first state title win. DAVID DIAZ : So, it helps you running wise and mentally wise, as well, because you have to endure that steepness, if you will. So, that was a real good part of the movie though. According to court documents, while employed as a police officer with the Bakersfield Police Department (BPD), Diaz handled a criminal informant, for nearly three years between April 2012 and February 2015, who was involved in the large-scale sale and distribution of the drug methamphetamine. And so, we have kids that are in high school and some that are in elementary school. In April 2019, Carter was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for conspiring with Diaz and Mara to sell the seized drugs. 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 just running to, to displace other runners and add them more points. In an extraordinary statement, Judge ONeill spoke directly to Diazs daughter, Caroline. picking in the fields. 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 . Former NFL player Colin Kaepernick is an executive producer on the project, and says in the trailer that it "is one of the most powerful projects I've ever been involved with.". 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It depends on the circumstances. [LAUGHS], JIM WHITE : Let, let me answer that, cause when Mrs. Diaz saw this film the first time, she came out and she said I love the film, but they didnt make me strict enough.. Did that change how you ran in future races? That was the only thing really that they had thats available to show that type of work [for the movie]. 1998 July - Damacio Diaz hired by the Bakersfield Police Department. [CHUCKLES] When we were growing up, maybe seven, eight, nine, ten thousand people is the population. As well as accepting illegal bribes, Diaz engaged in drug trafficking while with the BPD. Learn how your comment data is processed. It was fat. What is going on here is really outrageous, said criminal defense attorney Mark Geragos. BAKERSFIELD, Calif., (KBAK/KBFX) Damacio Diaz, a former Detective for the Bakersfield Police Department, has been released from federal custody. Assistant U.S. Atty Brian Delaney said Magallanes was arrested in a separate case and told officials about Diaz. This was an all expense paid trip provided by Disney. DAMACIO DIAZ : Yeah, were very, very proud of the way the movie portrayed us, our family. His partner, Patrick Mara, admitted to selling methamphetamine. FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The charges against Damacio Diaz have people in his hometown in disbelief. Coach White concurred and said their mom even asked why they didn't make her strict enough. I notice a lot of you became teachers. 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. That is definitely true. Richard Winton is an investigative crime writer for the Los Angeles Times and part of the team that won the Pulitzer Prize for public service in 2011. var _ndnq = _ndnq || []; _ndnq.push([embed]); Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Map: Track this weekends rain in the Bay Area, McFarland USA runner gets prison for corruption as police detective. Diaz, Damacio Diaz, David Diaz, Diego Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. A full house of over three hundred gave a rousing standing ovation to Jim and his wife, Cheryl. That year, Mara filed for bankruptcy and said he was drinking heavily. Atty. And theres not much to do there. Honestly, as we sat and talked with the Diaz brothers 3things were very apparent. I didn't want to go home," says Thomas. David is represented in the McFarland, USA movie along with two of his brothers, Damacio and Danny. Jim White restarted the program in 1980 after it had been dropped for a year. Early on, ONeill seemed to be signaling he was taking a hard-line stance. Diaz was active as a youth coach, and as a cop he rose quickly through the ranks before, as he said, he was seduced by the lure of easy money, by stealing and selling methamphetamine for personal profit, the very drugs he was being paid to get off the streets.