LOS ANGELES, CA — Former Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca was convicted Wednesday on multiple corruption charges related to the coverup of inmate abuse in Los Angeles County jails.

A jury convicted Baca of all three federal charges he faced for orchestrating a scheme to thwart an FBI investigation into the abuse inside the jails he ran and of lying to the bureau. The conviction ends a long saga that took down some of the department's highest ranking officials. It was federal prosecutor's third attempt to convict Baca. The four-woman, eight-man jury deliberated since Monday afternoon before convicting Baca of obstruction of justice, conspiracy to obstruct justice and making false statements to the FBI. The county's one-time top lawman now faces up to 20 years in federal prison.



Last year, a federal judge threw out his guilty plea, calling the plea deal far too lenient given the scope of the allegations. In December, a mistrial was declared in his first trial after the jury hung 11-1 in favor of acquittal. The primary change in the second trial is that the jury was not permitted to hear testimony from high-profile character witnesses for the defense. A federal judge deemed the testimony irrelevant to the charges at-hand.

Baca showed no emotion as he was convicted of all three counts with which he was charged -- obstruction of justice, conspiracy to obstruct justice and making false statements to the FBI. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison, according to prosecutors. Baca came out of the courthouse and told a throng of media that he's "optimistic" about the future, while thanking his wife, friends and supporters.

"I also want to say I appreciate the jury system. My mentality is always optimistic. I feel good," he said as he left, flanked by his lawyers who had their arms around his waist.

"We fought the good fight every day in court," defense attorney Nathan Hochman said. He predicted a win on appeal, saying the jury was not allowed to hear all the evidence that would have acquitted his client.

The jury foreman, a 51-year-old Los Angeles resident who did not want to give his name, told reporters that the evidence showed Baca tried "at times" to block the FBI investigation and that it was evident that the sheriff was "trying to protect his empire." The foreman said the most compelling testimony came from former Assistant Sheriff Cecil Rhambo, who warned Baca about thwarting the FBI.