The former narcotics officer is now known, however, for going to prison in 2016 for charges tied to drugs, bribery and tax fraud. 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. In May 2020, Diaz was released from a halfway house in Sacramento, where he was staying after serving his time. Prosecutors are specifically reexamining cases from 2011 to 2014, when the partners were committing crimes. Welcome to Killing County. In the movie, you [Coach White] spent a day picking in the fields with the boys. The. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. 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. 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. DAMACIO DIAZ, by and through his counsel, DAVID A. TORRES, hereby submits Damacio Diaz' Statement in Mitigation for the court's consideration. So, with myself, they [CHUCKLES] made me chubby in the movie. Select this result to view Damacio Diaz's phone number, address, and more. 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 detective Patrick Mara was also implicated in the same crime. In 2018, another man, Noel Carter, from Bakersfield, pleaded guilty to conspiring with Diaz and Mara to distribute drugs, according to federal prosecutors. Despite the possible life sentence, a federal judge ruled Diaz can be released. 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. It was fat. Delaney was the prosecutor in the case. 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. Defendant reserves the . Posted on Published: February 18, 2015- Last updated: August 7, 2022. 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 . 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. Los Angeles, Downtown L.A stabbing sends six to hospital; 1 arrested, San Diego Roman Catholic diocese facing yet another lawsuit from its insurance company, K-Pop isnt the only hot ticket in Koreatown how trot is captivating immigrants, Los Angeles is suddenly awash in waterfalls, Officials unprepared for epic mountain blizzard, leaving many trapped and desperate. That was the only thing really that they had thats available to show that type of work [for the movie]. Yes. My dad gives me a sense of security, she told the court. The sentence received Monday was more lenient than prosecutors had urged for Damacio Diaz, a 17-year veteran of the Bakersfield Police Department. DAVID DIAZ : And just to let you know, um, Gods good and we own almonds 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. DANNY DIAZ : Running in the race, Mr. White and the rest of the guys were telling me Joses out of it. Diaz, a 17-year Bakersfield cop, worked on 32 cases involving 53 defendants, with 20 requiring letters, she said. 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. Clovis PD investigating woman's death, asking public to avoid area. Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading. Atty. All seven Diaz children ran for Jim White and all seven went on to . She argued that her husband has learned from his mistakes and should not face any prison time at all. -KGET 17, Yes. He gave them information to clean up the department, said his lawyer, David Torres, in an interview. Diaz would quickly implicate Mara and then suggest others were making money too. Chance of rain 40%. Uh, it was 1988 and I was a senior at that time and my brother, Damacio, was a junior. Speaking of running, we asked the Diaz brothers if they still run. "I think it goes to show that sometimes the portrayal of images, and good work that has happened in the past, sometimes comes to what we see today and that people aren't always what they seem," said Greg Williamson, Bakersfield police chief. The former police officer was subsequently sentenced to five years in federal prison, just to be released days early from a halfway house in Sacramento, California, on May 8, 2020. Facebook gives people the power to. Dozens of Coach Jim White's runners ended up going to college or into the armed forces. The love they genuinely have for him was heartfelt and true. Julie and Jami are depicted in the McFarland, USA movie. 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 . Honestly, as we sat and talked with the Diaz brothers 3things were very apparent. They became the drug traffickers themselves, he said. The DOJ said Diaz and Mara deliberately failed to submit seized drugs as evidence and instead provided the stolen narcotics to Carter. (I am in the red in the back betweenDamacio and Danny). Did you ever do that again? He went back and got it. was like to have a movie made about his It gave you character. Unlike most defendants sentenced to prison for drug trafficking and other serious crimes, Diaz, dressed in a dark suit, walked out of the courthouse Monday afternoon unshackled, temporarily a free man. - 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. Former Bakersfield Police Department Detective Damacio Diaz with his wife, Courtney, and their children leaving U.S. District Court in Fresno after his 2016 sentencing. However, he did rebuild the boys and girls cross country programs from the ground up. director of photography Film Editing by David Coulson Casting By Sheila Jaffe Production Design by Richard Hoover 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. Mara, a 13-year veteran, had 55 cases involving 70 defendants. Although, David did add that his mom is actually much more strict than she is made to be in the movie. interview. We didnt have that close to us. I never had pressure. Five years in jail for a law enforcement officer thats still a serious sentence. They were cross country state champs in 1987, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000 and 2001. Silvia died on October 27, Herlinda on October 28. And Johnny was with him. His viewpoint of not changing too much from that aspect I see a definite change. Where are BPD Officers Aaron Stringer and Rick Wimbish Now. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. He is portrayed by Kevin Costner. DAMACIO DIAZ : He was our seventh man actually. There are no shopping malls or large grocery stores. So Im always looking out for their kids. Yet this fraud used his position for gain and greed. Diaz was a Tulare county sheriffs deputy years ago, but he's been at the Bakersfield police department for 17 years, the last four as a narcotics detective. experience coaching the team. 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. DAVID DIAZ : Not at all. 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.". How is the district attorney going to oppose any motion for a new trial when these investigators have admitted to such rogue behavior? said Ben Meiselas, who is representing several families suing the Bakersfield police, included a man shot while allegedly an informant for Mara. Ray referred to Felicia Rosario as his "wife," though they were never married. [CHUCKLES] And, and we didnt train and we got fifth that year. 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. Diaz was not remanded into custody. 1998 July - Damacio Diaz hired by the Bakersfield Police Department. 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. Wife of public defender who died at Mexico resort speaks out. And so, I cant keep up with my kids in high school [CHUCKLES], but I go with my little seven-year-old. 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. It does take a village [CHUCKLES] to raise, a child. children ran for Jim White and all seven So, it was a big deal for us. They talk about being 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. They appeared happy to be with us, and they enjoyed sharing their behind the scenes stories about the .