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 guys are amazing and it was a pleasure meeting them and listening to them. May God BLESS you all richly. My dad has 13 brothers and sisters. Thats a long time in jail for someone who once wore a badge.. She is preceded in death by her husband Damacio Diaz. Silvia died on October 27, Herlinda on October 28. DAVID DIAZ : So, it helps you running wise and mentally wise, as well, because you have to endure that steepness, if you will. High 61F. How often do you guys still train together with the new students? 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. And sports is what kind of helped us get out of that. Diaz and his partner, Patrick Mara, later admitted to ripping off drug dealers of their methamphetamine during traffic stops. During the investigation, five other officers were placed on administrative leave related to the investigation and one recently resigned. Kern County Dist. Those are the two extremes and those are the two options that are there for our community. under Coach Jim White at McFarland High DAMACIO DIAZ : Us training together, maam? Thank you for reading! According to the National Park Service, citing law enforcement officials, the husband and wife were discovered on Jan. 13. But if it werent for sports our kids would be lost, because its either education and sports or the streets. I still race competitively even though youre not as good as you once were. Low 44F. -KGET 17, Yes. Juanita Diaz. 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. It depends on the circumstances. Theres nothing to do in McFarland. Learn more about the McFarland, USA true story by watching the Jim White interview below. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (AP) An ex-detective who was on the championship 1987 track team depicted in the movie McFarland USA has been sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to bribery and drug charges. It was really an honor. Damacio Diaz features in new Hulu documentary "Killing County. It reviewed 87 cases. I wanna know what your guyss first reaction was when you heard that not only was your story going to be a movie but specifically this movie and knowing what these true life, inspirational movies become? Former detective Patrick Mara was also implicated in the same crime. 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. When the informant left, the narcotics detective found just under $1,000 in the passenger-side door pocket. Partly cloudy this evening followed by increasing clouds with showers developing after midnight. Danny Diaz, daughter Delia Diaz, Gabriel Diaz was a member of the team that won the state championship. Its hard to understand how he could do both.. 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). Damacio Diaz - CA Cross Country results and photos on Athletic.net We didnt have that close to us. A full house of over three hundred gave a rousing standing ovation to Jim and his wife, Cheryl. was like to have a movie made about his That year, Mara filed for bankruptcy and said he was drinking heavily. "It was damaging. Their city logo and motto have both been refreshed to express the new outlook of their community. 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. We [LAUGHS], we played basket. 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. Back then, McFarland was largely white demographically. They came from a large family where faith,educationand hard work were important. So, it was a big deal for us. DANNY DIAZ : Running in the race, Mr. White and the rest of the guys were telling me Joses out of it. It was great meeting you on the trip - it was such fun! 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More than 100 convictions were overturned as a result. By Laura Donaldson On 2/3/23 at 8:00 AM EST champions. Damacio stated that they were very proud of the way the movie portrayed their story their family. Mara said that when he partnered up with Diaz in spring 2012, Diaz walked out of a bedroom and handed him a few hundred dollars, while he stuck a large amount of money into his own pockets, according to court papers. 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. 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 . 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. The hearing included impassioned appeals by Diazs brother, wife and daughter, with the two latter witnesses in tears through much of their statements. That the judge would even mention such a possibility underscored the unusual nature of the hearing. Jim White, David Diaz, Damacio Diaz and Danny Diaz for McFarland, USA. 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. picking in the fields. 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. 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.". About $15,000 stuck out of Magallanes shorts. 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. Yes. Their actions risked their fellow officers safety for greed.. Diaz, and father and mother Paul and [CHUCKLES] And about two years ago, Mr. White, you help me pull? Still, Williamson said, the corrupt detectives had eroded trust with the community. But this is gonna be a family movie, so it is okay. So hes a very knowledgeable guy. He advised her to first trust in God, as the Almighty, he said, is not subject to the weaknesses and failings of humankind. Four years ago on a sweltering afternoon, Bakersfield Police Det. The Feds arrested him at the. [LAUGHS] Theymade me, uh . Copyright 2023 KFSN-TV. country team. But the guys over here were in decent shape still. Danny and Damacio run 3 to 5 miles a day to simply stay in shape. He would beat us up all the time. Ray referred to Felicia Rosario as his "wife," though they were never married. 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. Mara, a 13-year veteran, had 55 cases involving 70 defendants. For my son, it pushed him to go to college and do well while he was in high school. Select this result to view Damacio Diaz's phone number, address, and more. Also, take a closer look at the Diaz family, who had seven children run for McFarland. Both men are currently in halfway houses, Diaz in the Sacramento area and Mara in the Long Beach area. Mr. White was there as a person that we can rely on. They appeared happy to be with us, and they enjoyed sharing their behind the scenes stories about the . DAMACIO DIAZ : Yeah, we just run, Danny and I, just to stay in shape. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. 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). And, wow, those hills are its not rolling hills. A South Valley legend so popular he became the subject of a Disney movie has taken a hard fall. Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip Talbert said at the time of Diaz's sentencing: "Diaz had a life that afforded him many opportunities, including the opportunity to serve and protect his community as an officer of the law. He says that No. Girl, 13, Went Missing Last Week, and Suspect Is Arrested on . Plus, David still runs competitively and coaches. Yet this fraud used his position for gain and greed. -LA Times. Both had their sentences reduced. inspired to strive for something beyond 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. Included in the segment, titled Atty. 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.". White and many other family members and friends were in court to support Diaz. Coach Jim White is retired now, but if you go to McFarland, chances are you willsee him out there on his bike, keeping up with the kids every evening with a lotof his original team running alongside as well. February 27, 2023 new bill passed in nj for inmates 2022 No Comments . Then the following season, we were ranked number one for the entire season. Get up to speed with our Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week. Calif. 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. I had never been the top five, and as you know the top five are the ones that score. When one of Diazs attorneys used the word indiscretion to describe Diazs misdeeds, ONeill interrupted. The Feds arrested him at the department Friday morning and removed evidence. The 16-count indictment against the 17-year police veteran includes bribery and trafficking methamphetamine. We basically told our story, got interviewed for hours and hour and hours, and that was pretty much it. Yet his desire to always be at the front and center of action soon reached such an extent that he started blurring the line between right and wrong, resulting in his arrest in November 2015. DAMACIO DIAZ : Yeah, were very, very proud of the way the movie portrayed us, our family. Some, like David Diaz, became teachers themselves. Yes. We run once in a whileamongst, DAVID DIAZ : ourselves. 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. In 2018, another man, Noel Carter, from Bakersfield, pleaded guilty to conspiring with Diaz and Mara to distribute drugs, according to federal prosecutors. 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. Damacio Diaz was sitting in his car alongside informant Guillermo Memo Magallanes. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! 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." When I found out that it was Christian driven (truth !) DANNY DIAZ : We, we love basketball. Carter would then could sell those narcotics for profit. Phillip A. Talbert said the two detectives were specially selected for a joint drug task force in a region plagued by methamphetamine. and preaching in the Church of Christ. 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 . And so, we have a great dad. Diaz initially became well-known after the release of 2015 Disney movie, McFarland USA, starring Kevin Costner. Delaney was the prosecutor in the case. . Although, the brothers did say that the town hasnt really changed much, Coach White has noticed one big change. Killing County is scheduled to premiere on Hulu on Friday, February 3. Dozens of Coach Jim White's runners ended up going to college or into the armed forces. It is a day I truly regret and a decision that has changed my entire life.. went on to college. (I am in the red in the back betweenDamacio and Danny). My mom has 12. "He told me to take my wife out on a date or buy my kids something," Diaz would later. 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. Copyright 2020 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. I never had pressure. It reviewed 87 cases. But Mr. White was our second father. Now that he's cooperating with authorities, he has allegedly implicated others in the department, including his former partner . Disneys McFarland, USA, is helping to put the Diazs hometown on the map across the globe. Eliu Garza, also a McFarland High runner, is . Disney turned it into 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 . - An ex-detective who was on the championship 1987 track team depicted in the movie "McFarland USA" has been sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to bribery and drug charges. However, he had been a teacher in the McFarland School District since 1964, following his graduation from Pepperdine University. 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. According to Torres, the federal system will keep Diaz behind bars for more than four years before he becomes eligible for release. 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. Sunny to partly cloudy. PrepCalTrack.com conducted this Jim White Source: YouTube/KGET Article continues below advertisement The district attorneys office is prepared to retry the cases if necessary, Assistant Dist. He retired in 2003 after 23 years of coaching boys cross country. He is amazing. Silvia was 16 and Herlinda was 14. He went back and got it. [CHUCKLES] And, and we didnt train and we got fifth that year. And then Disney resigned us and got a better script writer. Central Valley. . Then they can do whatever they want. children ran for Jim White and all seven But U.S. Atty. 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. Coach White concurred and said their mom even asked why they didn't make her strict enough. DANNY DIAZ : east from McFarland, Mr. White here would take us to the hills. [Asking Danny referring to the last race of the first year]. Although, David did add that his mom is actually much more strict than she is made to bein the movie. In the least, such scenes seem to have been exaggerated by the filmmakers. He got into the truck and began to talk with Coach White about his difficulties at home. Hi everyone! Yes. School. Acting U.S. Atty. Along with fellow BPD Detective Patrick Mara, 40, the two were sentenced to five years in federal prison. You pick up any type of bug or any type of leaf, he knows what it is. That streak ended while the movie was in production, after the small school was elevated to Division I status, a byproduct of their success. 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. That day I was fifth runner and I felt so much pressure, but you know, lucky we were able to pull it off. In fact, a blink of an eye as you drive down Highway 99 in California and you will miss it. -LA Times. Danny Diaz was not overweight, but he was the seventh runner on the team. Damacio Diaz was sitting in his car alongside informant Guillermo "Memo" Magallanes. All opinions expressed are my own. 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 . The highest homicide rate The most crime. Diazs attorney, David Torres, was clearly relieved by the judges decision. But federal agents arrested him at work today. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. So for us, it was a way of life. People Search Michael Aguero as Damacio Diaz Rafael Martinez as David Diaz Ramiro Rodriguez as Danny Diaz Diana-Maria Riva as Seora Diaz Vanessa Martnez as Maria Marsol Martha Higareda as Lupe Valente Rodriguez as Principal Camillo Chris Ellis as Coach Jenks Eloy Casados as Dale Padilla Natalia Cordova-Buckley as Seora Valles Production [ edit] They work in the school system and believe in. interview. 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. FEMALE : How McFarland had changed, um, now that the movies gone? . 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. The McFarland, USA true story supports that McFarland High School won nine CIF California State Championships in cross country (including five in a row) and held a streak of attending the state championship meet 24 years in a row. Clovis PD investigating woman's death, asking public to avoid area. Raul was also a runner on the team when his sister was killed. 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. Former narcotics detective Damacio Diaz has accepted a plea deal in connection with federal charges that could send him to prison for life. His viewpoint of not changing too much from that aspect I see a definite change. 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. McFarland High School is actually just down the road from the Central Valley Correctional Facility, not across the street. 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. And so, we were just happy that Disney stuck with that first year and were lucky to be in the movie. DANNY DIAZ : Absolutely. 6:40 p.m. Oct. 25, 2016: A previous version of this article said the district attorneys office reviewed 108 cases involving the detectives. Paul Fischer, 73, called the Inyo County . I used to take Damacio and some of hispeers. We, we basically told our story, got interviewed for hours and hour and hours, and that was pretty much it. We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. In May 2020, Diaz was released from a halfway house in Sacramento, where he was staying after serving his time. [LAUGHS] So, just to let yall know were proud of what Hollywood did and what Niki and the producer and everyone did, but we lived in a very, very strict environment and still do to this day. In 2016 Diaz was sentenced for crimes including federal. [LAUGHS]. Diaz was a local celebrity at the time. They investigated every name that came up, uncovered every rock, and no one elses name came to light in their scandal, the chief said. And he did. He offers the kids a chance Despite the possible life sentence, a federal judge ruled Diaz can be released. Everyone there is excited about the movie and thenotoriety they have been receiving from it. Therefore, Damacio pleaded guilty to bribery, possession, attempted possession with the intent to distribute, and false income tax returns on May 31, 2016 hed resigned from BPD months prior. They became the drug traffickers themselves, he said. So, that was a real good part of the movie though. And, uh, low and behold, Mr. White, during Thanksgiving break, uh, when we have no school, he had an emergency. Damacio Diaz pleaded guilty to bribery, drugtrafficking and tax evasion. Here's what we know. Public corruption takes a heavy toll on our communities, and our office remains committed to prosecuting such conduct.". 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. [LAUGHS]. The sentence received Monday was more lenient than prosecutors had urged for Damacio Diaz, a 17-year veteran of the Bakersfield Police Department. Diaz this summer pleaded guilty to bribery, drug trafficking and tax evasion, and Mara admitted to selling methamphetamine. What is going on here is really outrageous, said criminal defense attorney Mark Geragos. To you culture, um, is all about community and it takes a village to raise a child. DAVID DIAZ : Not at all. 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. David is represented in the McFarland, USA movie along with two of his brothers, Damacio and Danny. pic.twitter.com/qKxl7i5dfn. I feel safe knowing he is in my corner.. Not exactly. They pocketed 4 pounds and turned in just a pound as evidence, officials said. Coach White concurred and said their mom even asked why they didnt make her strict enough. Now we are a runner running through the field, a figure silhouette of a runner. Atty. We shouldve had first. We don't know that anyone was physically injured as a result of it, fortunately. Inspired by the irony of his last name, "Blanco" was one of the nicknames that the kids and their families gave Jim White. 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. Coach Jim White Interview & the Diaz Family Looks Back, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile. It was such a great experience. Early on, ONeill seemed to be signaling he was taking a hard-line stance. Plus I love Kevin Costner! DAVID DIAZ : Uh, we donttrain. He did submit every kind of narcotics to evidence following each bust. Diaz, who has been allowed to remain free throughout the process, cooperated fully with investigators, according to the prosecution. JIM WHITE : Thomas. Wife of California doctor who drove family off cliff in Tesla doesn't want him prosecuted . That was the only thing really that they had thats available to show that type of work [for the movie]. DAMACIO DIAZ : Go ahead and call it. Diaz will be sentenced for three federal counts on October 3rd. They are a faith-filled family. Thanks! I didn't want to go home," says Thomas. 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. On that day, Leopoldo became a man. Those suckers are, are steep. DANNY DIAZ : We didnt train. 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. DANNY DIAZ : Uh, well, that was the last race for that year. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. A former Bakersfield Police detective, serving time in prison for his role in a drug ring, has been released. Copyright 2017 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. The community of McFarland still works as a village to raise their youth. [LAUGHS] These guys had all the pressure. The corruption scandal broke in November 2015 when federal agents arrested Bakersfield Police Detective Damacio Diaz for helping traffic methamphetamines. DAMACIO DIAZ : He was our seventh man actually. DAMACIO DIAZ : Our kids all compete. DAMACIO DIAZ : And if I can add to that.
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