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Sheriff Lee Baca Under Scrutiny for Taking $120,000 in Gifts
Baca in a Feb. 2010 appearance (Photo by NewsSpy via LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr)
Being sheriff has its perks -- to the tune of $120,000, if you're Sheriff Lee Baca.
ABC 7 reports that in his 13-year tenure, Baca has accepted gifts in the form of expensive liquor, tickets to shows and travel. And a database posted at the LA Times reveals that Baca has enjoyed many a game of golf on someone else's tab, including local attorney David Hochman and real estate developer Michael Schwab.
In total, the gifts amount to $120,000 over the course of the years.
As part of an investigation, the Times reports that Baca claimed to wish that he didn't have to contend with gifts and the questions they bring up:
"My life would be much easier if people did not give me gifts," he said. "I don't solicit any gifts. I've never asked for a gift.… People just do it for me."