It was indeed the first time that many of the kids ever saw the ocean. Timeline of Events - KGET 17 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.". 1972 March 9 - Damacio Diaz birth date 1973 April 17 - Noel Carter birth date 1980 March 16 - Noel Carter birth date 1982 July 15 - Derrick Penney birth date 1986 August 7 - Logan August birth date 1996 August - Damacio Diaz hired by the Tulare Police Department. Where are BPD Officers Aaron Stringer and Rick Wimbish Now. The former BPD official apparently knew what he was doing wasnt right in any way, shape, or form, yet he couldnt find a way out as there was no one he could approach for help, as per the docuseries. Copyright 2020 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. [CHUCKLES] Same thing happened back in the day when we were kids. FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The charges against Damacio Diaz have people in his hometown in disbelief. [Asking Danny referring to the last race of the first year]. An interview with Jim White, David Diaz, Damacio Diaz and Danny Diaz And so, we have a great dad. The Feds said Diaz was cheating the system in several ways -- for one, by stealing cash for drug buys or stealing the drugs from drug buys. Did Coach White encourage you to use any of his style when youre teaching or coaching? ", 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. Both men are currently in halfway houses, Diaz in the Sacramento area and Mara in the Long Beach area. 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). Four years ago on a sweltering afternoon, Bakersfield Police Det. Damacio Diaz, right, shakes hands with Tomas Valles as the team readies for the start of the Southern section championships in the 1987 season. In an extraordinary statement, Judge ONeill spoke directly to Diazs daughter, Caroline. No. BPD detective arrested for drug trafficking Additionally, Coach White would be there for counseling and fulfilling needs beyond what their parents could afford. Former detective depicted in 'McFarland, USA' is sentenced to five He advised her to first trust in God, as the Almighty, he said, is not subject to the weaknesses and failings of humankind. DAVID DIAZ : And just to let you know, um, Gods good and we own almonds now. [CHUCKLES] And, and we didnt train and we got fifth that year. During the investigation, five other officers were placed on administrative leave related to the investigation and one recently resigned. Atty. In May 2020, Diaz was released from a halfway house in Sacramento, where he was staying after serving his time. They threw it out. Bakersfield Police Narcotics Detective Charged With Bribery, Drug David is represented in the McFarland, USA movie along with two of his brothers, Damacio and Danny. It was really an honor. Diaz, and father and mother Paul and Copyright 2023 KFSN-TV. Eugenia Diaz Obituary (1918 - 2012) - San Antonio, TX - San Antonio 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 . Sunny to partly cloudy. It was such a great experience. Former Bakersfield Police Department Detective Sentenced to 5 Years in You can read our Kevin Costner Interview about his role as Jim White in the McFarland, USA movie. Two years later, we signed with another one, not quite that often, but it took a long process. 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. The student thus enrolled at California State University-Fresno while changing his major to Criminology as well as Military Science (1992-1996) before deciding to acquire training on the job. DANNY DIAZ : We didnt train. Early on, ONeill seemed to be signaling he was taking a hard-line stance. Damacio Diaz was sitting in his car alongside informant Guillermo Memo Magallanes. Mara was released from a halfway house in April after serving a little less than four years in federal prison. DAMACIO DIAZ : They said youre fat. We are no longer theHeartbeat of Agriculture. Wife of public defender who died at Mexico resort speaks out. My parents definitely pushed us to go that route and not thewide road most people go to is other than college. That decision also rocked the Kern County criminal justice system, marking the beginning of an ugly police corruption scandal involving cash, drugs and protection. It was such a great experience. But U.S. Atty. David Diaz is behind Victor wearing a white t-shirt and McFarland hat. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. Its hard to understand how he could do both.. picking in the fields. Diaz this summer pleaded guilty to bribery, drug trafficking and tax evasion, and Mara admitted to selling methamphetamine. Disgraced former Bakersfield Police Department detective Damacio Diaz, one of the real-life heroes of the movie "McFarland USA," was sentenced Monday in U . 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. Learn how your comment data is processed. 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. They have also lived in Mc Farland, CA and Delano, CA. They became the drug traffickers themselves, he said. McFarland, USA - Wikipedia Diaz would quickly implicate Mara and then suggest others were making money too. As well as accepting illegal bribes, Diaz engaged in drug trafficking while with the BPD. Damacio Diaz was a subject of the movie McFarland USA and became a Bakersfield police officer. [LAUGHS] These guys had all the pressure. 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. [LAUGHS] We all, all of us are basketball players. We run once in a whileamongst, DAVID DIAZ : ourselves. Diaz pleaded guilty last spring as part of a plea agreement that became public in May. Greens office reviewed 87 cases of the detectives involving 123 defendants before deciding to send the letters. school and decides to put together a cross A drug and corruption scandal has rocked the Bakersfield Police Department. Its a poor community. Silvia died on October 27, Herlinda on October 28. About $15,000 stuck out of Magallanes shorts. - 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. We shouldve had first. 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. 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. And we try to trip him up on that, and hes very smart in that regard. Damacio Diaz Profiles | Facebook Many of the citizens of McFarland were extras in the movie. Oh, its more than an indiscretion, he said. What Happened to Damacio Diaz? Bakersfield Cop Seen in 'Killing County' Along with fellow BPD Detective Patrick Mara, 40, the two were sentenced to five years in federal prison. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. A former Bakersfield Police detective, serving time in prison for his role in a drug ring, has been released. Go see it with your family! DAMACIO DIAZ : Us training together, maam? But he encouraged us to play sports. And it didnt. High 61F. And difficult to say what opportunities were missed or how much damage was done," said Benjamin Wagner, US Attorney. The Feds arrested him at the. See more stories in. Prosecutors are specifically reexamining cases from 2011 to 2014, when the partners were committing crimes. He also committed serious, reprehensible crimes. and preaching in the Church of Christ. This included members of the Bakersfield High Drillers. Although, David did add that his mom is actually much more strict than she is made to be in the movie. Despite the possible life sentence, a federal judge ruled Diaz can be released. Patrick Mara, center, speaks while flanked by attorney Fred Gagliardini. Bakersfield Police Corruption Scandal Could Have Wide Impact Former detective Patrick Mara was also implicated in the same crime. PE teacher in McFarland, an economically The former NFL player is an executive producer on Hulu's "Killing County.". Thanks! So , DANNY DIAZ : Mr. White never went back to Stockton never again. Soon Diaz and Mara were getting into other illegal activities, authorities said. He will have about two months to think about what comes next. His viewpoint of not changing too much from that aspect I see a definite change. They work in the school system and believe in. Uh, it was 1988 and I was a senior at that time and my brother, Damacio, was a junior. Since then, from what we can tell, the 50-year-old has chosen to retire and lead a comfortable yet quiet life in his home county of Kern; he hasnt moved anywhere. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Diaz pleaded guilty to stealing. We all feel grateful and the whole communitys just embracing it. 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. Former BPD detective, Damacio Diaz sentenced to 5 years - KERO Diaz, who has been allowed to remain free throughout the process, cooperated fully with investigators, according to the prosecution. We have also done internal investigations on many allegations that were made and once again they have been unable to uncover anything. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! That day I was fifth runner and I felt so much pressure, but you know, lucky we were able to pull it off. All seven Diaz children went to college and all seven returned to McFarland where they live today. Welcome to Killing County. That was the only thing really that they had thats available to show that type of work [for the movie]. They are portrayed to be 15 and 10, a few years younger than they actually were at the time of the first state title in 1987 (the girls were in college at the time). Our father never could ever go watch us race. They all spend some time running with the cross country team, as well as with their own kids. She changed her plans following her fathers indictment. Damacio Diaz, former BPD detective who stole drugs and put them back on the street, released from custody We would like your email. Diaz initially became well-known after the release of 2015 Disney movie, McFarland USA, starring Kevin Costner.. Where is Damacio Diaz Now? 'Killing County' on Hulu Explores His Story Those are the two extremes and those are the two options that are there for our community. Killing County is scheduled to premiere on Hulu on Friday, February 3. Posted on Published: February 18, 2015- Last updated: August 7, 2022. PrepCalTrack.com conducted this Jim White [LAUGHS]. They came from a large family where faith,educationand hard work were important. In our case, you know, theres seven and my dad worked a lot of hours. True Crime news & latest pictures from Newsweek.com Copyright 2017 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. "McFarland's Family of Champions," are Damacio Diaz - CA Cross Country Bio - Athletic.net The U.S. Attorneys Office had recommended a sentence of between roughly 17 and 22 years, but the judge had discretion. Likely not. Acting U.S. Atty. And believe it or not, before he was a coach, hes a scientist. [LAUGHS] We didnt do cabbage. Its grapes and its oranges and its almonds and its cotton and stuff in our area, but those werent available. Former narcotics detective Damacio Diaz has accepted a plea deal in connection with federal charges that could send him to prison for life. Twitter. 6:40 p.m. Oct. 25, 2016: A previous version of this article said the district attorneys office reviewed 108 cases involving the detectives. Their mom and dad worked hard and pushed the boys even harder to succeed and do well. I was just running to, to displace other runners and add them more points. Did that change how you ran in future races? Diaz and his partner, Patrick Mara, later admitted to ripping off drug dealers of their methamphetamine during traffic stops. He gave them information to clean up the department, said his lawyer, David Torres, in an interview. 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. Silvia was 16 and Herlinda was 14. JIM WHITE : Let, let me add one thing to that. But Bakersfield Police Chief Greg Williamson said the federal and internal inquiries after 18 months cleared them all. Not the right Damacio Diaz? Damacio Diaz features in new Hulu documentary "Killing County. BAKERSFIELD, Calif., (KBAK/KBFX) Damacio Diaz, a former Detective for the Bakersfield Police Department, has been released from federal custody. We have changed our city logo. Bakersfield. They were cross country state champs in 1987, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000 and 2001. No foul language or nudity - just fresh air. 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. Yes. Former NFL player Colin Kaepernick is an executive producer on new Hulu documentary "Killing County," which explores the story of Damacio Diaz. Back then, McFarland was largely white demographically. 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. He went back and got it. Girl, 13, Went Missing Last Week, and Suspect Is Arrested on . Diaz became well-known after being portrayed in the 2015 Disney movie, McFarland USA, starring Kevin Costner, about the transformation of a running team in McFarland. was like to have a movie made about his So Im always looking out for their kids. 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. Still, Williamson said, the corrupt detectives had eroded trust with the community. Get up to speed with our Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week. FEMALE : How McFarland had changed, um, now that the movies gone? [CHUCKLES] When we were growing up, maybe seven, eight, nine, ten thousand people is the population. My dad gives me a sense of security, she told the court. DAMACIO DIAZ : Yeah, we just run, Danny and I, just to stay in shape. 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. They appeared happy to be with us, and they enjoyed sharing their behind the scenes stories about the . Assistant U.S. Atty Brian Delaney said Magallanes was arrested in a separate case and told officials about Diaz. Honestly, as we sat and talked with the Diaz brothers 3things were very apparent. She is preceded in death by her husband Damacio Diaz. Diaz was a member of the team that won the state championship. 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. Learn more about the McFarland, USA true story by watching the Jim White interview below. 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. Diaz initially became well-known after the release of 2015 Disney movie, McFarland USA, starring Kevin Costner. Diaz, Damacio Diaz, David Diaz, Diego FRESNO, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) Former Bakersfield police detective Damacio Diaz was sentenced Monday in federal court to five years in prison. But the guys over here were in decent shape still. went on to college. February 3, 2023, 11:49 PM Part of the docu-series focuses on former Bakersfield Police Officers Damacio Diaz and Patrick Mara. Vida en el Valle file Daniel Casarez. 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. Wife of California doctor who drove family off cliff in Tesla doesn't want him prosecuted . under Coach Jim White at McFarland High Damacio Diaz, portrayed in McFarland USA movie, Bakersfield PD officer We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. "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. What is going on here is really outrageous, said criminal defense attorney Mark Geragos. His life story had been portrayed in the Disney movie "McFarland, USA". Colin Kaepernick's New Docuseries Looks at Calif. Police Department Members of McFarland's Diaz family reflect He called it a fair sentence, under the circumstances, and rejected the suggestion that it was an example of dual justice: one set of standards for those viewed with favor by the system, and another set for those without resources or with no history of working in the criminal justice system. Coach Jim White Interview & the Diaz Family Looks Back, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile. BPD detective Damacio Diaz, portrayed in McFarland USA movie arrested 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. The. 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. Low 44F. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. A former Bakersfield Police detective, serving time in prison for his role in a drug ring, has been released. 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. According to Torres, the federal system will keep Diaz behind bars for more than four years before he becomes eligible for release. Ray was arrested in February 2020 and in April 2022, following a four-week trial, he was convicted on several counts. That streak ended while the movie was in production, after the small school was elevated to Division I status, a byproduct of their success. He says that 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. Copyright 2023 Lovebugs and Postcards | Birch on Trellis Framework by Mediavine. Damacio is related to Elizabeth Z Diaz and Delia G Garza as well as 3 additional people. Included in the segment, titled [LAUGHS]. Public corruption takes a heavy toll on our communities, and our office remains committed to prosecuting such conduct.". [CHUCKLES] And about two years ago, Mr. White, you help me pull? I can't wait to see this movie! McFarland Residents Shocked by Arrest of Bakersfield Cop Portrayed in Is that how the last race happened? Disgraced detective whose story was told in 'McFarland USA' gets prison Speaking of running, we asked the Diaz brothers if they still run. Former detective Patrick Mara was also. Hes a pretty good coach, too. The legendary former McFarland A couple weeks later, the Bakersfield Police Department put him on leave after a federal investigation started to reveal an alleged connection to a major meth dealer. Keep an eye on your inbox for updates. Thomas Valles | You can't have my job, but I'll tell you a story DAMACIO DIAZ : He was our seventh man actually. Then the following season, we were ranked number one for the entire season. Let us send you our favorite posts and ideas once a week. People Search He told me to take my wife out on a date or buy my kids something, Diaz would later recall in court papers. Yes. 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. Damacio Diaz, 44, of McFarland, formerly a detective with the Bakersfield Police Department, was sentenced today to five years in prison for bribery . DANNY DIAZ : Running in the race, Mr. White and the rest of the guys were telling me Joses out of it. 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. There are no shopping malls or large grocery stores. 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. Hi everyone! 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). Damacio seemingly prefers to stay well away from the spotlight these days, but we do know the family man tied the knot with his long-term partner, teacher Courtney Diaz, on January 26, 2021. However, he did rebuild the boys and girls cross country programs from the ground up. Not exactly. -KGET 17, Yes. Eguenia was best described by many that "I can't say I was going to jump, but I was thinking about my life and why some people would jump. We started picking and hoeing and raking and doing everything you could possibly think of. For my son, it pushed him to go to college and do well while he was in high school. I never had pressure. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. However, similar to the film, Jim White had never been a runner himself and used the bike to follow the team during their workouts. 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. Damacio Diaz was released Friday from a halfway house in Sacramento, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. 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. Did you ever do that again? Join Facebook to connect with Damacio Diaz and others you may know. See Who's Searching for You. As, as hes retired. All seven Diaz According to the National Park Service, citing law enforcement officials, the husband and wife were discovered on Jan. 13. Carter was also ordered to pay $70,513 in restitution to his former employerwho he admitted to embezzling money fromand to forfeit $286,251 in proceeds from drug trafficking, according to federal prosecutors. However, it happened a little differently than in the movie. Overall though, they agreed that the picker lifestyle and Latino culture of the community was perfectly captured. -LA Times. Former Bakersfield police officer pleads guilty to bribery and other Their city logo and motto have both been refreshed to express the new outlook of their community. There is no shame in admitting that this case has kept me awake at night, and few do, ONeill said to the packed courtroom. Local photojournalist John Harte, who followed the team at the time, says that he witnessed opposing teams offer genuine handshakes of good luck. Plus, David still runs competitively and coaches. It gave you character. So, at that point I was running the sixth man and so I became fifth man and I was, for the first time in my life in the top five. The former narcotics officer is now known, however, for going to prison in 2016 for charges tied to drugs, bribery and tax fraud. 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 . No, the real Coach Jim White actually started coaching cross country at McFarland High School in 1980. Four years ago on a sweltering afternoon, Bakersfield Police Det. It was great meeting you on the trip - it was such fun!