He advised her to first trust in God, as the Almighty, he said, is not subject to the weaknesses and failings of humankind. Damacio Diaz, 44, of McFarland, formerly a detective with the Bakersfield Police Department, was sentenced today to five years in prison for bribery . children ran for Jim White and all seven His partner, Patrick Mara, admitted to selling methamphetamine. Yes. The most police executions. Since we have a newborn we weren't able to see the pre-screening in theaters but I hope to see it as soon as it comes out on DVD. Included in the segment, titled Jim White is to Thomas' right and Gary Adams is to White's right. As he walked a Hollywood red carpet in February and talked to Action News anchor Graciela Moreno about McFarland USA, little did Diaz know his life was ready to unravel. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. A former Bakersfield Police detective, serving time in prison for his role in a drug ring, has been released. As you pull into McFarland, you will know notice a silhouette of a runner running through an open field. 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. How did that impact your lives during high school to move on in the future? Danny Diaz was not overweight, but he was the seventh runner on the team. The highest homicide rate The most crime. Assistant U.S. Atty Brian Delaney said Magallanes was arrested in a separate case and told officials about Diaz. David is represented in the McFarland, USA movie along with two of his brothers, Damacio and Danny. So for us, it was a way of life. They became the drug traffickers themselves, he said. Coach White concurred and said their mom even asked why they didn't make her strict enough. Damacio is related to Elizabeth Z Diaz and Delia G Garza as well as 3 additional people. Members of McFarland's Diaz family reflect The disgraceful and criminal behavior of Diaz and Mara has gravely impacted the Bakersfield Police Department as well as our community as a whole, she said. 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. He will have about two months to think about what comes next. DAMACIO DIAZ : Us training together, maam? picking in the fields. Jim White and the Diaz Brothers with our Group for McFarland, USA. 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. A true crime thriller we made set in Kevin McCarthys district. Coach Jim White Interview & the Diaz Family Looks Back, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile. But I still do that and I coach. Defense attorneys compared the Bakersfield situation to the Los Angeles Police Departments Rampart scandal in the late 1990s, in which corrupt officers tainted cases. Our third man, Jose, he just-. After nearly three decades as a defense attorney, Torres said, he has seen people charged with trafficking in narcotics sentenced to much less prison time, and hes seen the reverse. They talk about being My dad has 13 brothers and sisters. We have also done internal investigations on many allegations that were made and once again they have been unable to uncover anything. Eguenia was best described by many that But his chief is ready to turn his back. We, we basically told our story, got interviewed for hours and hour and hours, and that was pretty much it. The former NFL player is an executive producer on Hulu's "Killing County.". Now, local prosecutors say the scandal jeopardizes other criminal cases. Likely not. Keep an eye on your inbox for updates. [LAUGHS] And we dont have the big grocery stores. experience coaching the team. No. The former teammates arenot only working in their hometown, but also raising their families there andactively supporting the cross-country teams of today by coaching, helping outwith the meets and practices and donating goods or money so the teams havewhat they need. It gave you character. Diaz was a local celebrity at the time. -KGET 17. "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. It reviewed 87 cases. Partly cloudy this evening followed by increasing clouds with showers developing after midnight. Paul Fischer, 73, called the Inyo County . When actually Disney did it we were thrilled very much so that Disney had it, because then we knew that it shouldnt have any sex and cussing and cigarettes and this type of thing, you know. 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 . When the informant left, the narcotics detective found just under $1,000 in the passenger-side door pocket. Local photojournalist John Harte, who followed the team at the time, says that he witnessed opposing teams offer genuine handshakes of good luck. Uh, it was 1988 and I was a senior at that time and my brother, Damacio, was a junior. it was in various stages, because this was about a 15-year process for us, my wife and I . Thanks! That streak ended while the movie was in production, after the small school was elevated to Division I status, a byproduct of their success. All of us went to college. 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. Second, he expressed sympathy regarding the educational quandary in which she finds herself. Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading. Kevin Costner (Coach Jim White) and Diana Maria Riva (Seora Diaz) in McFarland, USA. 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). All seven Diaz 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. Thats why we had the sixth and seventh runner on a team. They still believe in him, and so does his attorney, David A. Torres, who said, "He is and was a hero, in my opinion, and he is the same Damacio Diaz he is.". Phillip A. Talbert said the two detectives were specially selected for a joint drug task force in a region plagued by methamphetamine. They couldve chosen any other team, because we have nine state titles. A lot of us competed in college. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. DAVID DIAZ : Not at all. Diaz will be sentenced for three federal counts on October 3rd. Damacio stated that they were very proud of the way the movie portrayed their story their family. And believe it or not, before he was a coach, hes a scientist. Overall though, they agreed that the picker lifestyle and Latino culture of the community was perfectly captured. 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. Let us send you our favorite posts and ideas once a week. The DOJ said Diaz and Mara deliberately failed to submit seized drugs as evidence and instead provided the stolen narcotics to Carter. 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. 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. I had never been the top five, and as you know the top five are the ones that score. to know what it feels like to be Its hard to understand how he could do both.. [LAUGHS] Theymade me, uh . So, it was a big deal for us. To read the article in Spanish, click here, Insider is sentenced to prison in scam that nearly took down L.A.s last black bank, Man accused of threatening to kill people at Islamic center because of hatred for Muslims, Man is charged with attempted murder after break-in at Miranda Kerrs Malibu home. However, he had been a teacher in the McFarland School District since 1964, following his graduation from Pepperdine University. [CHUCKLES] Same thing happened back in the day when we were kids. DAMACIO DIAZ : And if I can add to that. He told me to take my wife out on a date or buy my kids something, Diaz would later recall in court papers. Diaz and his partner, Patrick Mara, later admitted to ripping off drug dealers of their methamphetamine during traffic stops. The love they genuinely have for him was heartfelt and true. 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. They were very respectful and well-mannered towards him, treating him with much respect as we talked. Diaz said that his time as a narcotics detective drove him to a life of drinking and that Magallanes, a drug dealer and a prominent member of the Mexican Mafia, became more friend than informant. His performance at the 1987 state meet did help McFarland lock up the title. All of a sudden I saw these headlights and it was Mr. White in his '59 Chevy." It does take a village [CHUCKLES] to raise, a child. Diaz would quickly implicate Mara and then suggest others were making money too. Scott Spielman said. An elderly couple from Las Vegas were found dead earlier this month in Death Valley National Park, law enforcement officials said. A South Valley legend so popular he became the subject of a Disney movie has taken a hard fall. 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. Former detective Patrick Mara was also implicated in the same crime. it's not all true but he's okay with that. . -Congressional Record, V. 146, Pt. Greens office reviewed 87 cases of the detectives involving 123 defendants before deciding to send the letters. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. Newsweek has everything you need to know about what happened to Bakersfield cop Damacio Diaz and why he is featured on Killing County. DAVID DIAZ : So, it helps you running wise and mentally wise, as well, because you have to endure that steepness, if you will. According to the California Department of Justice, Diaz and Mara conspired with another man, Noel Carter, 46. But federal agents arrested him at work today. The Feds arrested him at the. 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. Soon Diaz and Mara were getting into other illegal activities, authorities said. So, Danny youre talking about they made you a little different. What is going on here is really outrageous, said criminal defense attorney Mark Geragos. Did that change how you ran in future races? The assistant U.S. attorney used the word paradox to describe Diaz, one of seven siblings raised in the northern Kern County farming community of McFarland in a religious family, and one that seemed the epitome of the American dream. Leopoldo's father abandoned his wife and children. It depends on the circumstances. went on to college. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters, (L-R) David Diaz, Danny Diaz and Damacio Diaz attend the premiere of Disney's "McFarland, USA" at the El Capitan Theatre on February 9, 2015 in Hollywood, California. 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. 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. With nothing to do in their small town, kidshave two choices: education and sports or the streets. My dad gives me a sense of security, she told the court. About $15,000 stuck out of Magallanes'. Federal prosecutors in court sentencing documents said Mara had two patrol officers stop a vehicle the detectives knew was carrying 5 pounds of methamphetamine. Hes a pretty good coach, too. 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. DANNY DIAZ : Once you give them your story, obviously you sign with them. We started picking and hoeing and raking and doing everything you could possibly think of. Diaz initially became well-known after the release of 2015 Disney movie, McFarland USA, starring Kevin Costner. 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.". Updated: May 11, 2020 / 06:23 PM PDT BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) Disgraced former Bakersfield police detective Damacio Diaz has been released from custody after serving a federal term for stealing drugs during the course of his police work and putting them back on the street. And it didnt. teacher. Delaney was the prosecutor in the case. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Read More: Where are BPD Officers Aaron Stringer and Rick Wimbish Now? I have seven kids myself and all of us have a lot of kids. 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 . Danny Diaz, daughter Delia Diaz, Gabriel But I also understand clearly that while he did not sell his soul, he certainly rented it out.. Thank you for reading! The movie pushes up his arrival and coaching position at McFarland to 1987, the first year his cross country team attended and won the state championship (1987 was also the very first year that California had a state championship). Diaz, a 17-year Bakersfield cop, worked on 32 cases involving 53 defendants, with 20 requiring letters, she said. My parents definitely pushed us to go that route and not thewide road most people go to is other than college. JIM WHITE : From my aspect, I guess it was in various stages, because this was about a 15-year process for my wife and I. director of photography Film Editing by David Coulson Casting By Sheila Jaffe Production Design by Richard Hoover Former detective Patrick Mara was also implicated in the same crime. Learn more about the McFarland, USA true story by watching the Jim White interview below. -LA Times. What about the children? DANNY DIAZ : Im trying to be nice here. 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. 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. -KGET 17, Yes. Were all a year apart. Coach White took the orders and delivered them. 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. [LAUGHS]. Not exactly. Even some of us, after graduating college, like Danny, the day after he graduated from the university with the diploma, he was in the fields working, because that was, in our family, what was expecteduntil he got hired and got his job. Lisa Green is sending letters to defendants in 64 potentially tainted criminal convictions after her office examined scores of convictions involving the work of the disgraced pair. Plus I love Kevin Costner! JIM WHITE : Let, let me add one thing to that. Then they can do whatever they want. [Asking Danny referring to the last race of the first year]. They threw it out. You pick up any type of bug or any type of leaf, he knows what it is. Although, David did add that his mom is actually much more strict than she is made to be in the movie. Primary filming took place in McFarland, California in 2013. on their time as cross country runners DAMACIO DIAZ : Go ahead and call it. 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. He went back and got it. 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. Central Valley. He says that DANNY DIAZ : Absolutely. Carter would then could sell those narcotics for profit. So , DANNY DIAZ : Mr. White never went back to Stockton never again. 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. 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. Both had their sentences reduced. Diazs loyalty to Magallanes would be his downfall. If its not for the help of our cousins and our uncles and our friends and our church its really difficult during these times to raise a child. 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. Damacio Diaz, right, shakes hands with Tomas Valles as the team readies for the start of the Southern section championships in the 1987 season. DAVID DIAZ : Yeah, so just to let you know: I think Hollywood did a, a very good job of depicting and not making it look too guilty as regarding CPS. 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. These were the guys running in the California heat and winning state titles. Information from: The Bakersfield Californian, http://www.bakersfield.com. Under it you read three words:Tradition, Unity, and Excellence. Matter of fact, he ordered us and he forced us and he made us play sports, because the way he saw it hes the first one, and so he learned it before us. 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. 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. 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? of 1 [LAUGHS]. We love our dad. Thats what they wanted to do and Im just excited to be included in the movie. 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. FRESNO, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) Former Bakersfield police detective Damacio Diaz was sentenced Monday in federal court to five years in prison. Former narcotics detective Damacio Diaz has accepted a plea deal in connection with federal charges that could send him to prison for life. PrepCalTrack.com conducted this Jim White "Sometimes I helped them work in the fields," says the real Coach Jim White, "but more importantly, I had practice at a different time. If it were ethical, I would pay to have you go to UCLA, he said, noting that it clearly was not. Director Niki Caro chose to omit Luis Partida, who in the movie is replaced with David Diaz. It is a day I truly regret and a decision that has changed my entire life.. Damacio Diaz was sitting in his car alongside informant Guillermo "Memo" Magallanes. We are no longer theHeartbeat of Agriculture. They talk about being inspired to strive for something beyond picking in the fields. And he did. They went back to the original first year that we won state. 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. The community of McFarland still works as a village to raise their youth. -John Harte, Yes, and at times the White family paid for new shoes and clothing for the team out of their own pockets. Back then, McFarland was largely white demographically. FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The charges against Damacio Diaz have people in his hometown in disbelief. JIM WHITE : Ive done it quite often. Former NFL player Colin Kaepernick is an executive producer on new Hulu documentary "Killing County," which explores the story of Damacio Diaz. Calif. Honestly, as we sat and talked with the Diaz brothers 3things were very apparent. He literally would buy us shoes, feed us, counsel us, console us when we lost, that kinda stuff. Disgraced former Bakersfield Police Department detective Damacio Diaz, one of the real-life heroes of the movie "McFarland USA," was sentenced Monday in U . They are a faith-filled family. I still currently run. His viewpoint of not changing too much from that aspect I see a definite change. Posted on Published: February 18, 2015- Last updated: August 7, 2022. Here's what we know. We don't know that anyone was physically injured as a result of it, fortunately. Copyright 2017 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. He gave them information to clean up the department, said his lawyer, David Torres, in an interview. If you havent seen a trailer yet, here you go, Follow McFARLAND, USA on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mcfarlandusa, Follow Disney Pictures on Twitter: https://twitter.com/disneypictures. PUBLISHED: October 4, 2016 at 7:44 a.m. | UPDATED: October 4, 2016 at 7:53 a.m. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (AP) An ex-detective who was on the championship 1987 track team depicted in the movie . I've watched "McFarland" probably more than 200 times. In Boise, Idaho, 1987, Jim White and his title of coach is signifying his status as a . It was great meeting you on the trip - it was such fun! I understand he did a lot of good before this criminal activity. And he told me I want them to get their education, so I will go back and get my education. More than 100 convictions were overturned as a result. Diaz and his brother Danny were on the championship team; a third brother, David, had graduated by then but was included in the movie version. 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. 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. Talbert said that we concluded no officers were complicit in joining Diaz and Mara, and that no further prosecutions were planned at this time. In May 2020, Diaz was released from a halfway house in Sacramento, where he was staying after serving his time. If I could beat their third, fourth, fifth man, sixth man whatever, I would add more points to them. So the only way I could get some of them into some of the fields that I had to do the work with them. JIM WHITE : Let me add a little bit of that. Coach Jim White (Kevin Costner) is the new [LAUGHS] These guys had all the pressure. In 2016, Diaz, 48, was sentenced for "federal programs bribery, possession and attempted possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and making and subscribing a false income tax return." Jim White, David Diaz, Damacio Diaz and Danny Diaz for McFarland, USA. It was such a great experience. Interview with Big Hero 6 Directors Don Hall and Chris Williams, Behind the scenes of Big Hero 6 Bonus Content with FEAST Director Patrick Osborne. SPONSORED LINKS DAMACIO DIAZ, by and through his counsel, DAVID A. TORRES, hereby submits Damacio Diaz' Statement in Mitigation for the court's consideration. I never had pressure. There are no shopping malls or large grocery stores. 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. That the judge would even mention such a possibility underscored the unusual nature of the hearing. Fun fact: Rafael Martinez, who plays David Diaz in the movie, is one of my closest friends even to this day! The. 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. Still, it was rarely the entire quantity as he, his partner Patrick Mara, as well as an associate, reportedly had this combined side hustle. Diaz, Damacio Diaz, David Diaz, Diego challenged town in California's farm-rich After his father left, Leopoldo and his mother decided to pack . Is that still happening in McFarland? ", 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. We run three, four, five miles a day just to stay in shape.