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Former LA Sheriff Lee Baca, 77 And With Alzheimer's, Reports To Prison

Former L.A. Sheriff Lee Baca. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

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Former L.A. County Sheriff Lee Baca has started a three-year prison term for obstruction of justice, conspiracy and lying.

Baca reported to the La Tuna federal correctional institution near El Paso, Texas, according to the Bureau of Prisons' inmate locator. An official at the prison confirmed that Baca reported Tuesday.

The 77-year-old Baca, who has Alzheimer's, lost the last of his appeals earlier this month. He was convicted and sentenced in 2017.

His imprisonment caps a scandal that dates back to 2011, when sheriff's deputies hid an inmate informant from FBI agents who were investigating systematic abuse of jail inmates.

Baca was convicted in part for directing deputies to hide the informant, and for lying about his role to the feds.

The scandal snagged nine other Sheriff's Dept. officials, several of whom were convicted of beating prisoners or helping to cover up the abuse.

BACKGROUND:

Correction: An earlier version of this post misstated the day Baca reported to prison.

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