Crimes of the Times: "The Dungeon: Inside Men’s Central Jail"

Podcast by: L.A. Times Studios
Host: Christopher Goffard
Episode Date: September 9, 2025

Overview:

This compelling episode marks the launch of a new series by acclaimed reporter Christopher Goffard, titled Pandora’s Box: The Fall of LA’s Sheriff. Episode one, “The Dungeon,” takes listeners inside the infamous Men's Central Jail—the heart of a sprawling investigation into abuse and corruption within the nation’s largest sheriff's department. Through in-depth interviews with FBI Special Agent Leah Marks and former jail deputy James Sexton, Goffard peels back the layers of secrecy, violence, and systemic dysfunction that have long shrouded LA County jails.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Setting: Men’s Central Jail (“The Dungeon”)

• Atmosphere & History
  • Described as a “gloomy, sprawling old compound that feels like a dungeon” (08:06), built in 1963 with antiquated, visibility-limiting architecture.
  • No security cameras in main hallways or blocks at the time of investigation.
    • Notable quote – Leah Marks: “No cameras. They were in a closet, in boxes.” (08:49)
• Culture Among Deputies
  • New deputies serve 5-7 years in the jails before street assignments, fostering a “salty,” insular subculture marked by fear, tension, and frequent violence.
    • James Sexton: “We’re kind of viewed as the Pirates and salty and a little more swagger and bravado. A lot of that though is the byproduct of coming out of the jails.” (11:25)

2. The FBI Investigation: Enter Leah Marks

• Unusual Undercover Visits
  • Leah Marks, a social worker-turned-agent, disguises her investigation as a human trafficking case for plausible deniability in the jail (00:37).
  • Her efforts focus on substantiating inmate claims of excessive, unprovoked violence by deputies—claims that had “almost always fizzled out” in earlier probes due to lack of evidence and reliance on inmate vs. cop testimony (02:30).
• The Pattern of Abuse
  • Recurrent stories emerge from multiple inmates:
    • Minor infractions like turning one’s head result in beatings; deputies commonly shout "Stop resisting!" as they assault inmates, later charging victims with assault on an officer.
    • Notable quote – Leah Marks: “The same story we were hearing from the inmates is the deputies would start assaulting the inmate and say the same thing. Stop resisting. Stop resisting very loud.” (19:04)
  • Even those who witness abuse in jail refuse to talk, fearing retaliation.
    • Notable quote – Leah Marks: “They would say, ‘I’m not stupid. There’s no way I’m going to say I saw what happened … now I’m in the jail with the very deputies that just beat this guy.’” (20:10)

3. The Deputies’ Reality: Inside Perspective from James Sexton

• Inherited Cop Culture & Early Disillusionment
  • James Sexton details his lineage as a “brass baby,” son of a nationally prominent Alabama sheriff, recruited to LA by legendary deputies (09:37, 10:09).
  • New deputies are warned not to stand out due to family connections; they quickly learn to adapt or face alienation (12:50).
• Jailhouse Life and Dynamics
  • Describes “house of horrors,” mass processing of incoming inmates, and the ever-present tension (13:34).
  • Frustration and aggression among deputies frequently spill over—sometimes into after-hours fistfights in the parking structure (14:20).
  • The hopeless purgatory of custody duty fosters cynicism and resignation:
    • Notable quote – “We had no hope of getting out or furthering our career. We were second class citizens.” (14:53)
• Retaliation and Peer Pressure
  • After choosing not to retaliate when sucker-punched by an inmate, Sexton is ostracized and sees his innocence as “the last of my innocence as a cop.” (28:19)

4. Edging Closer to the Truth: Building the Case

• Deputy William Kirson and Undercover Conversations
  • Agent Marks orchestrates a wired breakfast with Deputy Kirson to probe inside knowledge (17:01).
  • Kirson confirms the “unwritten rule” that combative inmates are hospitalized as a matter of course and shares an example of a sergeant warning him not to witness or report excessive force (17:54).
  • Notable quote – Leah Marks: “That was kind of a confirmation that some of these things that are being said, there may be some truth to it. And that’s someone who’s on the inside.” (17:54)
• Connecting the Dots
  • One inmate’s letter leads to another, broadening the case as inmates point out recurring abusive deputies and consistent injury patterns (18:55 - 19:04).

5. Leah Marks’ Motivation: A Personal Backstory

• Family Tragedy and Policing
  • Marks reveals that her own grandmother and uncle were murdered in a suspected arson perpetrated by a member of law enforcement who escaped punishment, shaping her refusal to favor either deputies or inmates by default (21:19, 24:39).
  • Notable quote – Leah Marks: “Someone’s position doesn’t dictate whether they are more truthful or less truthful than anyone else.” (24:43)

6. Looking Forward: The Pandora’s Box Cracks Open

• Meeting Anthony Brown, “The Durag Bandit”
  • Marks finds a key informant in Brown, whose information is “critical to everything that happened next” (26:48).
• The Ghost in the Jail’s Machine
  • The premise for the next episode is introduced: a smuggled cell phone hidden in a Doritos bag sets the stage for the FBI’s confrontation with the sheriff’s department, ultimately involving Marks, Sexton, and Brown (04:43, 29:02).
• Teaser for Next Installment
  • “What’s the purpose of introducing the phone?” (29:02)
  • Next: investigating allegations of deputies taking bribes to smuggle contraband.

Memorable Quotes & Moments by Timestamp

• On the environment in Men’s Central Jail:

  • “You were compelling and conditioning people to anticipate... every interaction is going to be negative. And forever and ever something is always an existential threat.”
    – James Sexton (03:25)

• On fifth amendment warning among deputies:

  • “A sergeant came up to him and said, ‘You didn’t see anything, did you?’ … that was kind of a confirmation.”
    – Leah Marks (17:54)

• On the myth of police infallibility:

  • “Our job is to follow the evidence, follow the facts. You don’t get instant credibility due to your position or your role.”
    – Leah Marks (26:08)

Key Timestamps for Major Segments

• Case Introduction – FBI in Men’s Central Jail: 00:37 – 01:34
• Pattern of Abuse & Evidence Problems: 02:03 – 03:43
• Inside Look: Deputy James Sexton on Jail Culture: 03:43 – 14:53
• FBI Agent Leah Marks: Background & Motivation: 05:17 – 06:46 & 21:19 – 26:08
• Undercover Breakfast with Kirson: 17:01 – 17:54
• Inmates’ Reluctance to Report Abuse: 20:03 – 21:19
• Transition to Next Episode / Cell Phone Setup: 28:34 – 29:26

Tone & Language

The episode maintains a confiding, investigative tone, with first-person reflections and candid admissions from all principal sources. Goffard’s narrative weaves personal histories, systemic critique, and vivid on-the-ground detail to create an immersive, tension-filled account.

This summary covers the central revelations, themes, and voices in episode one of "Pandora’s Box: The Fall of LA’s Sheriff." It spotlights the interplay of institutional culture, individual choices, and the dogged pursuit of accountability in one of America’s toughest jails.