I feel safe knowing he is in my corner.. Danny Diaz, daughter Delia Diaz, Gabriel Partly cloudy this evening followed by increasing clouds with showers developing after midnight. DANNY DIAZ : Im trying to be nice here. Under it you read three words:Tradition, Unity, and Excellence. But, no, they made me chubby or overweight [CHUCKLES] and hecka hella slow [LAUGHS] when you watch the movie. Um, Im running my first half marathon soon, and, um, I just wanna know are those hills what you really trained on? Diaz and his partner, Patrick Mara, later admitted to ripping off drug dealers of their methamphetamine during traffic stops. 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. Two misdemeanor prostitution cases in which Diaz as an undercover detective was the only witness have already been dismissed. We were about seven or eight years old when all that began. When one of Diazs attorneys used the word indiscretion to describe Diazs misdeeds, ONeill interrupted. Silvia died on October 27, Herlinda on October 28. I didn't want to go home," says Thomas. We love our dad. 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. Damacio stated that they were very proud of the way the movie portrayed their story their family. These guys are amazing and it was a pleasure meeting them and listening to them. Damacio stated that they were very proud of the way the movie portrayed their story their family. 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. Their actions risked their fellow officers safety for greed.. He literally would buy us shoes, feed us, counsel us, console us when we lost, that kinda stuff. So , DANNY DIAZ : Mr. White never went back to Stockton never again. Leopoldo's father abandoned his wife and children. Likely not. If I could beat their third, fourth, fifth man, sixth man whatever, I would add more points to them. That decision also rocked the Kern County criminal justice system, marking the beginning of an ugly police corruption scandal involving cash, drugs and protection. Diaz then began cooperating with federal investigators and named other cops he said were corrupt. I notice a lot of you became teachers. She was amazing in the movie. Diazs attorney, David Torres, was clearly relieved by the judges decision. A true crime thriller we made set in Kevin McCarthys district. Along with fellow BPD Detective Patrick Mara, 40, the two were sentenced to five years in federal prison. - 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. Defendant reserves the . Damacio Diaz one of the three Diaz brothers depicted in the 2015 Disney film about the victorious Central Valley team admitted to lying on his tax returns and accepting bribes from an . -LA Times. Killing County is scheduled to premiere on Hulu on Friday, February 3. [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. Members of McFarland's Diaz family reflect 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 . DAMACIO DIAZ : For us, I believe sports, in general, we were already tough kids and we were used to working hard and theyre seven of us in our family. How often do you guys still train together with the new students? 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. Coach Jim White Interview & the Diaz Family Looks Back, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile. ", 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. You can read our Kevin Costner Interview about his role as Jim White in the McFarland, USA movie. 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. 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. 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. It reviewed 87 cases. FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The charges against Damacio Diaz have people in his hometown in disbelief. The DOJ said Diaz and Mara deliberately failed to submit seized drugs as evidence and instead provided the stolen narcotics to Carter. FEMALE : How McFarland had changed, um, now that the movies gone? But U.S. Atty. Twitter. [LAUGHS] And we dont have the big grocery stores. High 61F. He also committed serious, reprehensible crimes. So Im always looking out for their kids. We were very happy that that was going to take place. DAMACIO DIAZ : And if I can add to that. Thats a long time in jail for someone who once wore a badge.. It taught you how to accept losing or winning. We were raised in the field, it was our life. Though it is very close, Jim White likely wouldn't have had a clear view of it from his classroom window, as a street of homes separates the school's athletic fields from the prison grounds. Now that he's cooperating with authorities, he has allegedly implicated others in the department, including his former partner . SPONSORED LINKS 12, The real Jim White and wife Cheryl White actually have three daughters, Tami, Julie and Jami. On one occasion, Mrs. Diaz made 200 dozen tamales to send the team to Asia. Thomas Valles went on to become a prison guard (LA Times). Mara was released from a halfway house a month before Diaz, in April 2020, after serving just under four years in federal prison. Silvia was 16 and Herlinda was 14. If it were ethical, I would pay to have you go to UCLA, he said, noting that it clearly was not. Let us send you our favorite posts and ideas once a week. Would they flee bargain the same way with non-police criminals? Diaz was a member of the team that won the state championship. View Public Details & Court Records. Scott Spielman said. Newsweek has everything you need to know about what happened to Bakersfield cop Damacio Diaz and why he is featured on Killing County. school and decides to put together a cross 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. In fact, a blink of an eye as you drive down Highway 99 in California and you will miss it. 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. The Feds arrested him at the. We are no longer theHeartbeat of Agriculture. Oh, its more than an indiscretion, he said. The detective tipped him off about a Drug Enforcement Administration wiretap that captured him chatting, advising him to lay low, according to documents. But I also understand clearly that while he did not sell his soul, he certainly rented it out.. The community of McFarlandis important to them. Copyright 2017 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. [LAUGHS]. 1998 July - Damacio Diaz hired by the Bakersfield Police Department. 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 . Select this result to view Damacio Diaz's phone number, address, and more. Damacio Diaz was a subject of the movie McFarland USA and became a Bakersfield police officer. We run three, four, five miles a day just to stay in shape. We [LAUGHS], we played basket. Were all a year apart. picking in the fields. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Overall though, they agreed that the picker lifestyle and Latino culture of the community was perfectly captured. Diaz was not remanded into custody. 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. This is going to be a huge hit, I live about two hours from the area it's based on and I'm really looking forward to seeing it. 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. She changed her plans following her fathers indictment. Here's what we know. Damacio Diaz pleaded guilty to bribery, drugtrafficking and tax evasion. But [LAUGHS], as far as wanting to be a teacher he wasnt the only reason why we got into the education, but he was one of the two or three maybe. "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. Diaz did a lot of good things, Delaney said. Local photojournalist John Harte, who followed the team at the time, says that he witnessed opposing teams offer genuine handshakes of good luck. A previous version of this article said the district attorneys office reviewed 108 cases involving the detectives. But in reality the script that was written, we prayed that it would never happen. [LAUGHS] Much worse. Diaz this summer pleaded guilty to bribery, drug trafficking and tax evasion, and Mara admitted to selling methamphetamine. During the investigation, five other officers were placed on administrative leave related to the investigation and one recently resigned. Girl, 13, Went Missing Last Week, and Suspect Is Arrested on . Their mom and dad worked hard and pushed the boys even harder to succeed and do well. DAVID DIAZ : So, just to go back and let you know how my mother was depicted in previous scripts [LAUGHS] was probably a more accurate [CHUCKLES] version. Those are the two extremes and those are the two options that are there for our community. If they took statements, seized evidence or wrote reports, we will be sending letters to defense attorneys or defendants that represented themselves, she said. They are amazing guys who still have that humble hardworking attitude! Defendants could seek motions for a new trial or to withdraw pleas in some cases. Keep an eye on your inbox for updates. BAKERSFIELD, Calif., (KBAK/KBFX) Damacio Diaz, a former Detective for the Bakersfield Police Department, has been released from federal custody. 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.". interview. What about the children? Still, it was rarely the entire quantity as he, his partner Patrick Mara, as well as an associate, reportedly had this combined side hustle. But, yes, I did that. [LAUGHS]. And we were running number one all year long. More than 100 convictions were overturned as a result. Vida en el Valle file Daniel Casarez. 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 story of McFarland started with a cross-country in the '80s. 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. Im a runner. Sunny to partly cloudy. Their parents are also highly regarded by each of them and they obviously have a deep love for the family unit. And so, its just a fun place to be. Their city logo and motto have both been refreshed to express the new outlook of their community. 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 . Now we are a runner running through the field, a figure silhouette of a runner. 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. Yes. We were racing big races and trying to accomplish big things, so we looked at Mr. White as our dad. Despite the possible life sentence, a federal judge ruled Diaz can be released. After his father left, Leopoldo and his mother decided to pack . Yeah, yeah, yeah. Now, local prosecutors say the scandal jeopardizes other criminal cases. Paul Fischer, 73, called the Inyo County . potential at the predominantly Latino high And it didnt. Damacio Diaz is one of the subjects of new Hulu documentary Killing County. . There is no shame in admitting that this case has kept me awake at night, and few do, ONeill said to the packed courtroom. We run once in a whileamongst, DAVID DIAZ : ourselves. Learn how your comment data is processed. Speaking of running, we asked the Diaz brothers if they still run. That is why it was so amazing and cool that I got to interview Jim White, David Diaz, Damacio Diaz, and Danny Diaz. I still race competitively even though youre not as good as you once were. McFarland High School is actually just down the road from the Central Valley Correctional Facility, not across the street. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph.. So we have a lot of uncles and everybody has a lot of kids. We, we basically told our story, got interviewed for hours and hour and hours, and that was pretty much it. My dad has 13 brothers and sisters. David Diaz is behind Victor wearing a white t-shirt and McFarland hat. I cannot thank all of the people involved enough for bringing this story to us. We shouldve had first. 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. Second, he expressed sympathy regarding the educational quandary in which she finds herself. 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. Damacio Diaz (R) and guest attend the Bakersfield Special Screening of "McFarland, USA" in Bakersfield, CA on Feb. 15th, 2015. Its hard to understand how he could do both.. Diaz may be a free man later tonight, but he's facing life in prison for allegedly helping a meth dealer get drugs and stay undetected, all while he was supposed to be a narcotics detective. -Congressional Record, V. 146, Pt. 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. Yes. You have permission to edit this article. We have also done internal investigations on many allegations that were made and once again they have been unable to uncover anything. Former detective Patrick Mara was also implicated in the same crime. Soon Diaz and Mara were getting into other illegal activities, authorities said. Join Facebook to connect with Damacio Diaz and others you may know. Both girls were on this trip to a meet in Santa Maria and the beachs, and these photos are from Silvia's album, which her family had saved. 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. So for us, it was a way of life. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! They have also lived in Mc Farland, CA and Delano, CA. Yes. The former NFL player is an executive producer on Hulu's "Killing County.". DANNY DIAZ : Absolutely. DAMACIO DIAZ : Yeah, we just run, Danny and I, just to stay in shape. And difficult to say what opportunities were missed or how much damage was done," said Benjamin Wagner, US Attorney. 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. In a highly charged hearing packed with family members and supporters of the former cop, U.S. District Judge Lawrence ONeill indicated during the nearly two-hour hearing that the case was among the most difficult and emotional hes encountered in all his years on the bench. We started picking and hoeing and raking and doing everything you could possibly think of. 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. The three Diaz brothers featured in the new Disney movie, David, Damacio and Danny, all speak highly of both of their parents. Diaz would quickly implicate Mara and then suggest others were making money too. See Who's Searching for You. It taught you discipline. Prosecutors are specifically reexamining cases from 2011 to 2014, when the partners were committing crimes. The former narcotics officer is now known, however, for going to prison in 2016 for charges tied to drugs, bribery and tax fraud. Delaney acknowledged that Diaz provided information that was helpful in bringing charges against his former police partner, Patrick Mara, whose own sentencing is scheduled Oct. 17. But even worse, they say he tipped off the drug dealer when police might be coming his way, even giving the guy information from a secret wiretap. DANNY DIAZ : We didnt train. Plus I love Kevin Costner! Former NFL player Colin Kaepernick is an executive producer on new Hulu documentary "Killing County," which explores the story of Damacio Diaz. (I am in the red in the back betweenDamacio and Danny). As a documentary series that delves deep into the alleged corruption, cover-ups, and crimes within the Bakersfield Police Department over the years, Hulus Killing County is unlike any other. This included members of the Bakersfield High Drillers. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. A former Bakersfield Police detective, serving time in prison for his role in a drug ring, has been released. 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Not the right Damacio Diaz? The. inspired to strive for something beyond According to the National Park Service, citing law enforcement officials, the husband and wife were discovered on Jan. 13. Phillip A. Talbert said the two detectives were specially selected for a joint drug task force in a region plagued by methamphetamine. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Diaz initially became well-known after the release of 2015 Disney movie, McFarland USA, starring Kevin Costner. teacher. Diaz, and father and mother Paul and It gave you character. There are no shopping malls or large grocery stores. Inspired by the irony of his last name, "Blanco" was one of the nicknames that the kids and their families gave Jim White. It was really an honor. It was great meeting you on the trip - it was such fun! DAMACIO DIAZ : Mr. White might have more than us. They talk about being An elderly couple from Las Vegas were found dead earlier this month in Death Valley National Park, law enforcement officials said. May God BLESS you all richly. [LAUGHS] These guys had all the pressure. I wanna know is your mom really that way, because she was a scene stealer? Damacio Diaz was released Friday from a halfway house in. It is a day I truly regret and a decision that has changed my entire life.. And he did. 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. We don't know that anyone was physically injured as a result of it, fortunately. The ramifications of the corruption scandal could be large. The hearing included impassioned appeals by Diazs brother, wife and daughter, with the two latter witnesses in tears through much of their statements. All seven Diaz children ran for Jim White and all seven went on to . CA. Jim White, David Diaz, Damacio Diaz and Danny Diaz for McFarland, USA. Uh, it was 1988 and I was a senior at that time and my brother, Damacio, was a junior. Thank you for reading! Plus, David still runs competitively and coaches. The Diaz brothers represent 3 of the 7 runners from the McFarland Cross Country team of 1987. After the interview we were able to get a picture with them. Yes. So that was my experience for the first time at state having the pressure. According to the California Department of Justice, Diaz and Mara conspired with another man, Noel Carter, 46. 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. 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. [CHUCKLES] When we were growing up, maybe seven, eight, nine, ten thousand people is the population. 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. Our third man, Jose, he just-. Right now our community is excited obviously with the movie and rightfully so. 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. How much or any input did you have to have on the filming, the making the movie? Diaz, a former Bakersfield police detective, is interviewed on camera in Killing County. Coach White concurred and said their mom even asked why they didnt make her strict enough. [CHUCKLES] Same thing happened back in the day when we were kids. We maybe started school but hardly any of us finished. 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. My parents definitely pushed us to go that route and not thewide road most people go to is other than college. 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). Mr. White had a lot more influence in how this script was written. Mara was released from a halfway house in April after serving a little less than four years in federal prison. 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. 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). 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? He retired in 2003 after 23 years of coaching boys cross country. 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 was released Friday from a halfway house in Sacramento, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. However, it was later revealed that BPD Detectives Damacio Diaz and Patrick Mara were involved in making Ramirez an informant. DAVID DIAZ : Not at all. About $15,000 stuck out of Magallanes shorts. 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. We dont have the big malls. They investigated every name that came up, uncovered every rock, and no one elses name came to light in their scandal, the chief said. 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.