Crimes of the Times: The Other Side of the Door – The Case Against Lee Baca
Podcast by L.A. Times Studios | Episode Date: October 14, 2025
Host: Christopher Goffard
Overview
In this gripping episode, reporter Christopher Goffard concludes his investigative series "Pandora’s Box: The Fall of LA’s Sheriff" by examining the downfall of Lee Baca, former LA County Sheriff, and the cascading consequences of obstructed justice in the LA jail system. Through firsthand accounts, trial details, and interviews with key players including former jailer James Sexton and chief prosecutor Brandon Fox, the episode exposes systemic corruption, the heavy toll of solitary confinement, and debates lasting impacts on law enforcement culture in Los Angeles.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Culture of Obsession and Corruption in the Sheriff’s Department
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Brandon Fox describes Lee Baca and deputy Paul Tanaka’s obsession with the FBI investigation, calling their choices an “existential threat” to their own department.
- Quote (00:02, 04:49): “We later learned about the obsession that both Mr. Baca and Mr. Tanaka had with the FBI and U.S. attorney's investigation…”
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James Sexton recounts the impact of isolation and betrayal as a law enforcement insider-turned-prisoner, relating his psychological decline and methods for surviving solitary confinement.
- Quote (00:08, 09:19): “Isolation is just really one of the worst things that you can do to a person. I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy.”
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Juror Perception & Jury Selection Challenges: Due to national events (James Comey’s controversial FBI role in the 2016 election), prosecutors struggled to find jurors who trusted the FBI, impacting initial trial outcomes.
- Quote (05:34): “It was much harder to find people who trusted the FBI than I've ever had in any other trial, and not even close.”
2. The Manhunt for Inmate Informant Anthony Brown
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Efforts to hide Brown: Prosecutors detail how jailers (including Sexton) shuttled informant Anthony Brown between cells under aliases, undermining federal oversight under the pretense of "protection".
- Narration (04:30): “Had to prove that jailers had shuttled inmate informant Anthony Brown between cells under fake names to hide him from the feds…”
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Sexton’s transformation: From ambitious cop to federal inmate, his humiliation and punishment serve as a cautionary reflection on systemic accountability.
- Quote (01:46): “You're experiencing what marginalized communities are experiencing in America every day… I'd never been on the other side of the door.”
3. Legal Battles: First Trial (Deadlock) and Retrial (Conviction)
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First trial (Dec 2016): Baca’s defense leans on his Alzheimer's diagnosis; widespread skepticism of the FBI among jurors leads to a hung jury (11 of 12 for acquittal).
- Narration (07:28): “It was a risk... neither would they get to hear Baca's incriminating interview with the federal prosecutor.”
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Retrial (March 2017): Prosecutors change tack, including Baca’s false statements, and the defense is blocked from presenting medical evidence. Testimonies from high-ranking co-conspirators and vivid closing arguments help secure a conviction.
- Quote (18:11): “I actually took out kids’ king from my chessboard at home and I showed it to the jury... quietly turned it over, which is a sign that the game is over and that the king has been defeated.”
4. The Human Cost: Solitary Confinement and Prison Life
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James Sexton's ordeal: He paints a harrowing picture of psychological decay and coping rituals in isolation, such as breaking teeth off a comb to mark the passage of time.
- Quote (03:11, 10:13): “You start to become disoriented from time... That's the first thing that happens. You start to lose touch with how long an hour is, how long a day is...”
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Emergence and Reunion: Released after four and a half months, Sexton describes the emotional numbness and small victories, like marveling at an automatic door at FedEx.
- Quote (14:04): “I walked in and the door opened… and I played with the opening door for like three minutes, I swear to God. Just because the doors were open and they don't rack and roll like the sliders do…”
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Lasting Trauma: Sexton's need for a service dog and admission that “prison reformed me,” capturing the profound personal change wrought by his ordeal.
- Quote (28:31): “In its own weird way, this was great for me and my life. In my maturity and my humility, I'm probably one of the rare people that would tell you that prison reformed me.”
5. Aftermath for Lee Baca
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Conviction and Sentencing: After his conviction, Baca is sentenced to three years (less than guidelines, considering age and illness). Despite declining health and public support, he ultimately serves time until his release in 2021.
- Narration (18:44, 21:30): “His lawyer pleaded... saying Baca's Alzheimer's was its own terrible punishment... He went home in October 2021.”
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Final Years and Public Sentiment: Details from Karen Richardson’s biography reveal Baca’s routine in prison, support from wife Carol, and struggles with memory loss. His disappearance in 2024 highlights his decline.
- Narration (21:30-22:20): “Baca wandered away from home in San Marino... found at a Denny’s... in a badly confused condition.”
6. Systemic Impact and Unfinished Business
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Jail Culture Post-Baca: Debate on whether the prosecutions had any permanent effect. Subsequent Sheriff Alex Villanueva is described as more damaging; current reforms are noted, though conditions remain dire.
- Quote (29:05): “Mike Giannocco... said Baca did more for civil rights and progressive policing than he's credited with... Villanueva did more damage... than Baca did in 15 years.”
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Pandora’s Box: The investigation led to convictions of 22 LASD members, but many problems persist. The case’s lesson: “No man is above the law and no one is beneath it.”
- Quote (23:13): “No case exemplifies it more than this one... If we could give the highest ranking law enforcement officer... obstruction... then you can believe that many juries will also do the same.”
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Role of Young FBI Agents & What Might Have Been: Leah Marks expresses pride and frustration – the probe's success owed to rookie zeal, but institutional resistance may have buried even more cases.
- Quote (27:18): “Coming in with fresh eyes and just being that go getter because I was new. I do think that that helped... We don't know how many more civil rights cases we could have brought because the department came in and disrupted our investigation.”
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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James Sexton on isolation (00:08, 09:19):
“Isolation is just really one of the worst things that you can do to a person. I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy.” -
On the impact of solitude and survival tactics (03:11):
“Each day will get easier, right, because it won't be so thick.” (About breaking teeth off a comb as a daily marker.) -
Brandon Fox on prosecution difficulty (22:43):
“When you talk about someone of that age, someone who's served the public for so long and … has a serious medical issue, it's harder to prosecute those people.” -
On accountability (23:13):
“No man is above the law and no one is beneath it. No case exemplifies it more than this one ...” -
Chess piece metaphor in the retrial (18:11):
“…the jury's right in front of me. I’m standing at the lectern. I make this argument and then I quietly turned it over [the king piece], which is a sign that the game is over and that the king has been defeated.” -
Sexton’s post-prison humility (28:44):
“Being an asshole is not illegal. And I'm paying the crime. I'm paying for that every day. I pay for that and I accept that.”
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 00:02 – Prosecutor Brandon Fox on Baca & Tanaka’s obsession with investigation
- 00:36-01:46 – James Sexton describes his arrest, imprisonment, and impact of isolation
- 04:30 – Prosecutor Fox on hiding informant from FBI
- 05:34 – Jury selection challenges post-2016 election
- 07:28 – Strategic omission of Baca's Alzheimer’s interview in first trial
- 09:19-13:07 – Sexton details psychological effects of solitary and reintroduction to everyday life
- 15:15-18:44 – Retrial, new evidence, chessboard closing argument, and conviction
- 21:30-22:20 – Baca’s prison experience, release, and memory loss
- 23:13 – Fox’s reasoning on the importance of the case
- 27:18 – Leah Marks on young agent’s fresh perspective
- 28:44 – Sexton’s acceptance of his transformation
- 29:05 – Continuing issues in LASD and new leadership
Conclusion
This episode offers a rare, unflinching look at the intersection of power, accountability, and vulnerability inside one of America's largest law enforcement agencies. Goffard’s reporting, paired with candid interviews, exposes the complex morality and lasting scars revealed by the fall of Lee Baca and those caught in his orbit. The story is a testament to the weight of individual choices, the cost of institutional denial, and the urgent, ongoing struggle for reform in the criminal justice system.