Jim White restarted the program in 1980 after it had been dropped for a year. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Diaz said that his time as a narcotics detective drove him to a life of drinking and that Magallanes, a drug dealer and a prominent member of the Mexican Mafia, became more friend than informant. 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). On that day, Leopoldo became a man. These men were the real life inspirations for McFarland USA. The former NFL player is an executive producer on Hulu's "Killing County.". It was a huge fall from grace for Diaz, who was well known in the Central Valley as being a member of the high school cross-country running team portrayed in the 2015 Disney movie McFarland, USA.. Damacio Diaz - CA Cross Country results and photos on Athletic.net (I am in the red in the back betweenDamacio and Danny). Delaney was the prosecutor in the case. His wife and family, including a brother who works at McFarland high school, all supported him in court Friday afternoon. inspired to strive for something beyond In the movie, you [Coach White] spent a day picking in the fields with the boys. They came from a large family where faith,educationand hard work were important. Defense attorneys compared the Bakersfield situation to the Los Angeles Police Departments Rampart scandal in the late 1990s, in which corrupt officers tainted cases. When the informant left, the narcotics detective found just under $1,000 in the passenger-side door pocket. Diaz, and father and mother Paul and DAMACIO DIAZ : Our kids all compete. [LAUGHS]. The love they genuinely have for him was heartfelt and true. Not the right Damacio Diaz? DAVID DIAZ : So, it helps you running wise and mentally wise, as well, because you have to endure that steepness, if you will. According to Torres, the federal system will keep Diaz behind bars for more than four years before he becomes eligible for release. The Department of Justice said Diaz and Mara would deliberately fail to submit seized drugs as evidence and instead would give them to Carter, who would sell them for profit. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. With Kevin Costner, Ramiro Rodriguez, Carlos Pratts, Johnny Ortiz. So, it was a big deal for us. Defendant reserves the . He must report to federal authorities before 2 p.m. Dec. 5 to begin serving his sentence. And we were running number one all year long. Starring Kevin Costner, Maria Bello, Carlos Pratts, Hector Duran, Copyright 2023 HistoryvsHollywood.com, CTF Media, No. DANNY DIAZ : Yeah, if you drive600 miles out . I never had pressure. If you havent seen a trailer yet, here you go, Follow McFARLAND, USA on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mcfarlandusa, Follow Disney Pictures on Twitter: https://twitter.com/disneypictures. Damacio Diaz pleaded guilty to bribery, drugtrafficking and tax evasion. It reviewed 87 cases. I understand he did a lot of good before this criminal activity. Coach White concurred and said their mom even asked why they didn't make her strict enough. Federal prosecutors in court sentencing documents said Mara had two patrol officers stop a vehicle the detectives knew was carrying 5 pounds of methamphetamine. In Boise, Idaho, 1987, Jim White and his title of coach is signifying his status as a . It was such a great experience. Defendants could seek motions for a new trial or to withdraw pleas in some cases. He is amazing. -LA Times. So, thatwas good. Damacio Diaz, 43, of McFarland, California, a detective with the Bakersfield, California, Police Department (BPD), 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 dealer's drug organization, announced U.S. Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner of the Eastern District of California . Right now our community is excited obviously with the movie and rightfully so. However, he had been a teacher in the McFarland School District since 1964, following his graduation from Pepperdine University. Low 44F. 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. DANNY DIAZ : That is true. He had to take off to Stockton to, to be with his family with a family situation and he left us there to, to train on our own. Did you ever do that again? All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! The Feds arrested him at the. Where are Damacio and Patrick now? When one of Diazs attorneys used the word indiscretion to describe Diazs misdeeds, ONeill interrupted. In 2016 Diaz was sentenced for crimes including federal. Coach Jim White (Kevin Costner) is the new According to the California Department of Justice, Diaz and Mara conspired with another man, Noel Carter, 46. 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. Diaz was charged with assisting a drug dealer and providing him with names of police informants, and with trafficking drugs that had been seized for evidence. The community of McFarland still works as a village to raise their youth. That the judge would even mention such a possibility underscored the unusual nature of the hearing. Copyright 2017 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. FRESNO, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) Former Bakersfield police detective Damacio Diaz was sentenced Monday in federal court to five years in prison. 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. The assistant U.S. attorney used the word paradox to describe Diaz, one of seven siblings raised in the northern Kern County farming community of McFarland in a religious family, and one that seemed the epitome of the American dream. I had never been the top five, and as you know the top five are the ones that score. Everyone there is excited about the movie and thenotoriety they have been receiving from it. 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. Yes. Damacio is related to Elizabeth Z Diaz and Delia G Garza as well as 3 additional people. Although, David did add that his mom is actually much more strict than she is made to be in the movie. DAVID DIAZ : Yeah, so just to let you know: I think Hollywood did a, a very good job of depicting and not making it look too guilty as regarding CPS. And then Disney resigned us and got a better script writer. Keep an eye on your inbox for updates. 6:40 p.m. Oct. 25, 2016: A previous version of this article said the district attorneys office reviewed 108 cases involving the detectives. JIM WHITE : Ive done it quite often. They talk about being inspired to strive for something beyond picking in the fields. 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. We all feel grateful and the whole communitys just embracing it. Diaz, a former Bakersfield police detective, is interviewed on camera in Killing County. That streak ended while the movie was in production, after the small school was elevated to Division I status, a byproduct of their success. Do you feel like the movie does a good job of describing that culture (of family and pickers)? Bakersfield. However, it happened a little differently than in the movie. "McFarland's Family of Champions," are You know we are a God-fearing folks, so we were teaching in Sunday school on Sundays. 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. What about the children? Write by: A full house of over three hundred gave a rousing standing ovation to Jim and his wife, Cheryl. This was an all expense paid trip provided by Disney. But thats okay. We run once in a whileamongst, DAVID DIAZ : ourselves. Get up to speed with our Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week. Damacio Diaz. under Coach Jim White at McFarland High Jim White and the Diaz Brothers with our Group for McFarland, USA. Now we are a runner running through the field, a figure silhouette of a runner. Sunny to partly cloudy. -John Harte, Yes, and at times the White family paid for new shoes and clothing for the team out of their own pockets. Diaz pleaded guilty to stealing. Speaking of running, we asked the Diaz brothers if they still run. DANNY DIAZ : Uh, well, that was the last race for that year. Former NFL player Colin Kaepernick is an executive producer on new Hulu documentary "Killing County," which explores the story of Damacio Diaz. Both are about to begin five-year federal prison sentences for their crimes. He pleaded guilty earlier this year to charges he. Kevin Costner and others picking in the fields in McFarland, USA. cross country coach talks about what it [CHUCKLES] When we were growing up, maybe seven, eight, nine, ten thousand people is the population. Plus, David still runs competitively and coaches. It gave you character. PUBLISHED: October 4, 2016 at 7:44 a.m. | UPDATED: October 4, 2016 at 7:53 a.m. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (AP) An ex-detective who was on the championship 1987 track team depicted in the movie . Diazs loyalty to Magallanes would be his downfall. Information from: The Bakersfield Californian, http://www.bakersfield.com. February 27, 2023 new bill passed in nj for inmates 2022 No Comments . I didnt enjoy it very much. A lot of us competed in college. 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. And so, we were just happy that Disney stuck with that first year and were lucky to be in the movie. This included members of the Bakersfield High Drillers. So, that was a real good part of the movie though. So for us, it was a way of life. You have permission to edit this article. If it were ethical, I would pay to have you go to UCLA, he said, noting that it clearly was not. Hes a pretty good coach, too. Damacio Diaz was sitting in his car alongside informant Guillermo Memo Magallanes. And Johnny was with him. 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. Copyright 2020 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Not exactly. DAMACIO DIAZ : They said youre fat. Did that change how you ran in future races? How did that impact your lives during high school to move on in the future? To make up for the time they couldn't work in the fields due to cross country practice, Jim White would sometimes give his time to them by helping them pick in the fields. Tom Sizemore dead at 61 after suffering brain aneurysm, Crews helping residents stranded by snow in Mariposa County, Home catches fire in snow-covered neighborhood in North Fork. They were very respectful and well-mannered towards him, treating him with much respect as we talked. By Laura Donaldson On 2/3/23 at 8:00 AM EST Although, the brothers did say that the town hasnt really changed much, Coach White has noticed one big change. Acting U.S. Atty. However, he did rebuild the boys and girls cross country programs from the ground up. That day I was fifth runner and I felt so much pressure, but you know, lucky we were able to pull it off. Yet this fraud used his position for gain and greed. That decision also rocked the Kern County criminal justice system, marking the beginning of an ugly police corruption scandal involving cash, drugs and protection. Damacio Diaz, right, shakes hands with Tomas Valles as the team readies for the start of the Southern section championships in the 1987 season. So hes a very knowledgeable guy. 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. I didn't want to go home," says Thomas. We were raised in the field, it was our life. country team. Diaz's wife Courtney painted a picture him as a strong Christian and dedicated family man who in her words 'became a lost soul alone in the dark' while undercover. Diaz, who has been allowed to remain free throughout the process, cooperated fully with investigators, according to the prosecution. Damacio Diaz was released Friday from a halfway house in Sacramento, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. 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. Coach Jim White Interview & the Diaz Family Looks Back, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile. it all made sense. Overall though, they agreed that the picker lifestyle and Latino culture of the community was perfectly captured. Now that he's cooperating with authorities, he has allegedly implicated others in the department, including his former partner . 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. As stated above, the real Jim White started teaching in the McFarland School District straight out of college in 1964. A drug and corruption scandal has rocked the Bakersfield Police Department. The sentence received Monday was more lenient than prosecutors had urged for Damacio Diaz, a 17-year veteran of the Bakersfield Police Department. Damacio Diaz said he doesn't recognize the man he was three years ago when he was a detective working for Bakersfield police. Diaz was a member of the team that won the state championship. Diaz, a 17-year Bakersfield cop, worked on 32 cases involving 53 defendants, with 20 requiring letters, she said. Plus I am a big Kevin Costner fan, I dont think I have ever not liked one of his movies. And when it was suggested Diaz could help rebuild the communitys trust in the police department if only he were allowed the freedom to do so, the judge pounced again, saying he didnt believe that trust damaged so severely by a person given such extraordinary powers could be fully restored. How much or any input did you have to have on the filming, the making the movie? "I can't say I was going to jump, but I was thinking about my life and why some people would jump. [LAUGHS] We didnt do cabbage. Two years later, we signed with another one, not quite that often, but it took a long process. And so, we have kids that are in high school and some that are in elementary school. There are no shopping malls or large grocery stores. During the investigation, five other officers were placed on administrative leave related to the investigation and one recently resigned. The ramifications of the corruption scandal could be large. 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. [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. Director Niki Caro chose to omit Luis Partida, who in the movie is replaced with David Diaz. This hearing is not about telling someone they are no good, ONeill said. Former detective Patrick Mara was also implicated in the same crime. Theyre looking out for my kids and were trying to police each other, because its very easy to get distracted and go way off course. Eguenia was best described by many that -KGET 17. 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. BAKERSFIELD, Calif., (KBAK/KBFX) Damacio Diaz, a former Detective for the Bakersfield Police Department, has been released from federal custody. Coach White concurred and said their mom even asked why they didnt make her strict enough. 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 shouldve had first. Then the following season, we were ranked number one for the entire season. But even prosecutor Brian Delaney of the U.S. Attorneys Office seemed satisfied with Diazs ultimate sentence, a dozen years fewer than the minimum he had recommended. Disgraced cop's 5-year sentence a fraction of prosection's recommendation, Corrupt cops compel Kern DA to inform defense attorneys about 'tainted' cases. Diaz initially became well-known after the release of 2015 Disney movie, McFarland USA, starring Kevin Costner.. Copyright 2023 KFSN-TV. And we try to trip him up on that, and hes very smart in that regard. We run three, four, five miles a day just to stay in shape. Both had their sentences reduced. Carter would then could sell those narcotics for profit. He is portrayed by Kevin Costner. Prosecutors are specifically reexamining cases from 2011 to 2014, when the partners were committing crimes. Yes. Coach White took the orders and delivered them. Damacio Diaz, 43, was arrested on November 20, 2015 and 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 dealer's drug organization. Newsweek has everything you need to know about what happened to Bakersfield cop Damacio Diaz and why he is featured on Killing County. Plus I love Kevin Costner! We have changed our city logo. And it didnt. Four years ago on a sweltering afternoon, Bakersfield Police Det. View the profiles of people named Damacio Diaz. 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. I've watched "McFarland" probably more than 200 times. DAMACIO DIAZ : Yeah, we just run, Danny and I, just to stay in shape. In a tweet promoting the documentary, the star mentioned the high homicide and crime rates in Bakersfield, calling the series a "thriller set in Kevin McCarthy's district," in reference to House Speaker McCarthy, whose congressional district includes parts of Bakersfield. Members of McFarland's Diaz family reflect McFarland, USA comes to theaters on Friday, February 20th. But he encouraged us to play sports. Since we have a newborn we weren't able to see the pre-screening in theaters but I hope to see it as soon as it comes out on DVD. School. Where are BPD Officers Aaron Stringer and Rick Wimbish Now. 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. Damacio Diaz, former BPD detective who stole drugs and put them back on the street, released from custody We would like your email. The movie is based on the true story of a 1987 cross . Oh, its more than an indiscretion, he said. Mara, a 13-year veteran, had 55 cases involving 70 defendants. The former teammates arenot only working in their hometown, but also raising their families there andactively supporting the cross-country teams of today by coaching, helping outwith the meets and practices and donating goods or money so the teams havewhat they need. Damacio Diaz is one of the subjects of new Hulu documentary Killing County. Ray was arrested in February 2020 and in April 2022, following a four-week trial, he was convicted on several counts. Fun fact: Rafael Martinez, who plays David Diaz in the movie, is one of my closest friends even to this day! His viewpoint of not changing too much from that aspect I see a definite change. We [LAUGHS], we played basket. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. PE teacher in McFarland, an economically 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. His life story had been portrayed in the Disney movie "McFarland, USA". Thats because it comprises not only archival footage but also first-hand accounts of individuals closest to the matter to truly uncover this Californian citys merciless, violence-driven justice system. It was fat. Five years in jail for a law enforcement officer thats still a serious sentence. They went back to the original first year that we won state. 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. Michael Aguero as Damacio Diaz Rafael Martinez as David Diaz Ramiro Rodriguez as Danny Diaz Diana-Maria Riva as Seora Diaz Vanessa Martnez as Maria Marsol Martha Higareda as Lupe Valente Rodriguez as Principal Camillo Chris Ellis as Coach Jenks Eloy Casados as Dale Padilla Natalia Cordova-Buckley as Seora Valles Production [ edit] These were the guys running in the California heat and winning state titles. was like to have a movie made about his champions. I still currently run. Chance of rain 40%. When I found out that it was Christian driven (truth !) Mr. White was there as a person that we can rely on. 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. 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. DAMACIO DIAZ : Yeah, were very, very proud of the way the movie portrayed us, our family. on their time as cross country runners Whether it be Burglary, Financial Crimes Detail, Homicide, Narcotics Investigations, Sexual Assault, Special Enforcement (Gang), or Vice, he worked in every department at one point or the other. We have also done internal investigations on many allegations that were made and once again they have been unable to uncover anything. But, yes, I did that. 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. Local photojournalist John Harte, who followed the team at the time, says that he witnessed opposing teams offer genuine handshakes of good luck. Disgraced former Bakersfield Police Department detective Damacio Diaz, one of the real-life heroes of the movie "McFarland USA," was sentenced Monday in U . Kevin Costner (Coach Jim White) and Diana Maria Riva (Seora Diaz) in McFarland, USA. And believe it or not, before he was a coach, hes a scientist. The Bakersfield Californian says (http://bit.ly/2dGESLb) the U.S. Attorneys Office recommended between 17 and 22 years. They threw it out. My dad has 13 brothers and sisters. 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. 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. Let us send you our favorite posts and ideas once a week. Their city logo and motto have both been refreshed to express the new outlook of their community. Theres nothing to do in McFarland. -KGET 17, Yes. But federal agents arrested him at work today. Ray referred to Felicia Rosario as his "wife," though they were never married. An elderly couple from Las Vegas were found dead earlier this month in Death Valley National Park, law enforcement officials said. Then to keep him on the narrow road or that straight road is tough. Even some of us, after graduating college, like Danny, the day after he graduated from the university with the diploma, he was in the fields working, because that was, in our family, what was expecteduntil he got hired and got his job. DANNY DIAZ : We, we love basketball. DAMACIO DIAZ : And if I can add to that. And so, I cant keep up with my kids in high school [CHUCKLES], but I go with my little seven-year-old. She changed her plans following her fathers indictment.
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