Amanda Lee Myers reports for AP:
Minutes after former Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca acknowledged failing the public by lying to federal authorities investigating jail beatings, a judge overseeing his corruption case shocked a packed courtroom Monday by rejecting the ex-lawman's plea agreement as too lenient.
Judge Percy Anderson's surprise rejection came at the end of what was supposed to be Baca's sentencing. Under the agreement reached earlier this year with prosecutors, Baca faced a maximum of six months in prison and was eligible for probation.
Such a light sentence would "trivialize" the rule of law and would fail to address Baca's "gross abuse of the public's trust," Anderson said.
"It's one thing to lie," Anderson said. "It's another thing entirely ... when the chief law enforcement officer of the county of Los Angeles is involved in a wide-ranging conspiracy to cover up abuse and corruption."
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