Crimes of the Times – Episode Summary

Episode Title: Inside Man: A Jailer Turns Informant

Podcast: Crimes of the Times (L.A. Times Studios)
Host: Christopher Goffard
Date: September 30, 2025

Brief Overview

This episode follows the rise and fall of James Sexton, once a promising deputy in the L.A. County Sheriff's Department. Sexton’s transition from a dedicated lawman to whistleblower—and ultimately to indicted felon—offers a rare, harrowing inside look at the pervasive culture of secrecy, loyalty, and corruption in one of America’s largest jail systems. Sexton’s journey exposes the personal cost of breaking the code of silence, and raises pointed questions about accountability at the highest levels of the Sheriff’s Department.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Sexton's Background and Early Conflicts

• Family Heritage: Son of a famed Alabama sheriff, James Sexton fought to distinguish himself within the L.A. Sheriff’s Department and shed the "brass baby" label ([00:42]).
• Early Loyalty Test: Sexton showed blind obedience in helping hide a federal informant (Anthony Brown) from the FBI—a decision he believed would remain buried ([00:42]–[01:50]).
• Quote – On betrayal:

  “Everybody loves the treason, but they hate the traitor. They hate the person that steps up and says, this is what we were doing behind the curtain.”
  — James Sexton ([00:05], [02:20])

The Peckerwoods Tip and Institutional Pushback

• Tip from Informant: While working for Operation Safe Jails, Sexton receives intelligence about a deputy passing a package to a skinhead gang leader ([01:50]–[02:20]).
• Stonewalling: His boss, Lieutenant Greg Thompson, orders him to write reports that "protected the accused jailer," effectively nullifying the investigation ([02:43]).
• Career Fallout: Reporting the misconduct marks Sexton as an outsider, leading to his ostracization ([03:14]–[04:18]).
• Quote – On the culture:

  “The culture is look the other way.”
  — James Sexton ([03:27])

Ostracization and Descent

• Hostility and Social Death: Sexton is shunned, labeled a "snitch," receives threats, and has a rat drawn on his locker ([04:35]).
  • He is called "Deputy Serpico" and fears for his safety, altering his routines ([05:41]).
• Betrayal by Leadership: He believes Sheriff Lee Baca’s hands-off management bred toxicity and left him vulnerable ([05:41]).
• Turning to Press: When ostracism escalates, Sexton goes to the media, indirectly triggering reforms but making himself a target ([05:41]–[06:23]).

FBI Contact and Paranoia

• Recruitment by FBI: Sexton is approached by the FBI via an acquaintance, warned his life may be in danger from both the Aryan Brotherhood and department insiders ([06:53]–[07:19]).
• Experienced Threats: Though never explicit, Sexton details the chilling methods of departmental retaliation—radio silence during dangerous situations, surveillance, and threats of being framed ([07:19]–[09:43]).
• Quiet Isolation:

  "Nobody’s gonna help you. When you would start to put out radio traffic or ask for support, nobody responds to you."
  — James Sexton ([07:39])

Cooperation with Federal Investigators

• Initial Reluctance: Fears "betraying" his agency; only turns after experiencing departmental surveillance and threats ([08:08]–[10:49]).
• Leah Marks, FBI Handler: Unexpectedly warm, disarming—a former social worker—she wins Sexton’s trust ([12:09]–[13:47]).
• Revelations: Sexton discloses systemic misconduct, notably the computer manipulation to hide Anthony Brown, and the broader culture of silence around use of force and informant management ([13:47]–[14:42]).

Downfall: Indictment and Aftermath

• Grand Jury Testimony: Sexton's own admissions caught him; acknowledges muddling timelines but insists his intent wasn’t obstruction ([14:56]–[15:17]).
• Tension with FBI and Prosecutors: Rejects wearing a wire on his father and Sheriff Baca ([15:24]), feels the FBI growing cold ([15:42]).
• Quote – On facing indictment:

  “I think I’m getting indicted.”
  — James Sexton ([15:42])

• Formal Charges: Becomes one of 18 deputies/officials indicted in a sweeping federal case—accused of conspiracy and obstruction ([16:36]–[17:24]).
• Public and Personal Humiliation: Experiences widespread hostility, including from his Alabama hometown; narratives of "hope you die" and calls for prison rape ([18:58]–[19:43]).
• Quote – On the hate:

  "Hope you die. Hope you...people wanted me to get prison raped, and they wanted that, and they didn’t even know me."
  — James Sexton ([19:06])

• Refusal to Plea: Rejects misdemeanor deal to avoid jail, clings to his cop identity, and goes to trial ([20:45]–[21:09]).
• Conviction: Initially a hung jury; upon retrial, convicted and sentenced to 18 months ([23:13]).

Post-Conviction and Reflection

• Incarceration: Goes to Alabama to serve his sentence; is assaulted in jail ([24:09]–[24:35]).
• Father's Pain: Remotely visits with his father, who breaks down in tears when seeing him in custody ([24:35]).
• Letting Go: Realizes his life as a cop is over and must adapt to survive prison. Many of his peers choose suicide; he’s determined not to ([23:37]–[24:09]).
• Quote – On surviving:

  “I’m a felon, I won’t be a cop, and I will survive.”
  — James Sexton ([23:37])

Unanswered Questions and Systemic Failure

• Broader Accountability: The episode closes with questions about why higher-ranking officials—namely Undersheriff Paul Tanaka and Sheriff Lee Baca—were never indicted, despite directing or overseeing operations ([25:07]–[26:31]).
• Sheriff Baca’s Response:

  “We have too much to do than putting prisoners who are at risk in a position where they are trusted more than I am. I am not going to accept that.”
  — Sheriff Lee Baca ([26:31])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments with Timestamps

• On speaking out:

  “Everybody loves the treason, but they hate the traitor.” — James Sexton ([00:05])

• On institutional culture:

  “The culture is look the other way.” — James Sexton ([03:27])

• On being ostracized:

  “It's one of the mortal sins in the sheriff’s department... They look through you, they look at you, they'll look at disdain. And you catch that over and over and over and over again and you start to break down.” — James Sexton ([04:43])

• On FBI overtures:

  “You're still part of this cancer.” — Sexton, recalling the FBI’s attitude ([14:42])

• On personal collapse:

  “I became a man without a country. I became ostracized.” — James Sexton ([04:18])

• On trial and identity:

  “You're looking at a young man's desperate attempt to hold onto something that was his identity at the time.” — James Sexton ([21:09])

• On conviction:

  “I wrote three things down when I got convicted and it meant a lot to me and it's, I'm a felon, I won't be a cop, and I will survive.” — James Sexton ([23:37])

• On the system’s failures:

  “Why was the federal government prosecuting a foot soldier like Sexton but had not indicted the so called generals?” — Christopher Goffard ([25:07])

Important Timestamps

• 00:05–03:27: Sexton’s early career, Peckerwoods tip, and first acts of whistleblowing
• 04:18–06:23: Social ostracism and turning point; media involvement
• 06:42–10:49: FBI contact, threats, and psychological ordeal
• 12:09–15:17: Sexton becomes an informant; revelations to the FBI
• 15:42–17:24: Indictment and public fallout
• 20:45–23:37: Trial, conviction, and self-reflection
• 24:09–25:07: Imprisonment and family impact
• 25:07–26:31: Lack of prosecution for executive leadership; broader questions

Summary & Tone

The episode maintains a gritty, introspective tone, alternately angry, wounded, bitter, and reflective. Sexton’s narrative is raw—he owns his missteps while underscoring the psychological toll of being both an insider and an outcast. The reporting is incisive but empathetic, challenging listeners to consider not only personal responsibility but also the cultural rot that permeates powerful institutions.

For Further Listening

The episode ends with the promise that future installments will examine the fate of higher-ups and the eventual downfall of Sheriff Lee Baca.