美国国家公共电台 NPR Former LA County Sheriff Lee Baca Convicted In Jail Corruption Case

 

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

A court has convicted the former sheriff of Los Angeles County. The sheriff, it is said, blocked an investigation¹ into mistreatment of jail inmates³, a crime for which the penalty can be jail. Here's Annie Gilbertson of KPCC.

ANNIE GILBERTSON, BYLINE⁴: For 15 years, Lee Baca led the nation's largest sheriff's department. He was among the most powerful law enforcement leaders in the country. Part of the job was overseeing the jails where there were allegations of deputies beating inmates, including those in handcuffs. The FBI started investigating civil rights abuses. But their efforts were blocked in 2011 when the sheriff's department discovered a cell phone the FBI had given an informant. Deputies hid that inmate² informant from the FBI. Later, they approached an FBI agent at her house and threatened to arrest her. Prosecutors⁵ said Sheriff Baca led the conspiracy⁶.

Baca was tried once before. But the jury couldn't agree on a verdict. This time, a jury found Baca guilty of conspiracy, obstruction⁷ of justice and making false statements. The jury foreman pointed⁸ to the testimony⁹ of the former assistant sheriff who said he warned Baca not to mess with the feds. Federal officials claimed victory and said the decision shows no one is above the law, not even the sheriff himself. Baca came out to the courthouse steps with his lawyers and wife, thanking them all. He vowed¹⁰ to appeal.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

LEE BACA: Now, you've known me for a long time. I am a faith-based person. My mentality¹¹ is always optimistic. I look forward to winning on appeal.

GILBERTSON: Baca is 74 years old and has been diagnosed with early stages of Alzheimer's. He now faces up to 20 years in federal prison. For NPR News, I'm Annie Gilbertson in Los Angeles.

(SOUNDBITE OF BADBADNOTGOOD'S "VELVET")

1 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

2 inmate   

n.被收容者；(房屋等的)居住人；住院人

参考例句：

• I am an inmate of that hospital.我住在那家医院。
• The prisoner is his inmate.那个囚犯和他同住一起。

3 inmates   

n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• One of the inmates has escaped. 被收容的人中有一个逃跑了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The inmates were moved to an undisclosed location. 监狱里的囚犯被转移到一个秘密处所。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

5 prosecutors   

检举人( prosecutor的名词复数 )； 告发人； 起诉人； 公诉人

参考例句：

• In some places,public prosecutors are elected rather than appointed. 在有些地方，检察官是经选举而非任命产生的。 来自口语例句
• You've been summoned to the Prosecutors' Office, 2 days later. 你在两天以后被宣到了检察官的办公室。

6 conspiracy   

n.阴谋，密谋，共谋

参考例句：

• The men were found guilty of conspiracy to murder.这些人被裁决犯有阴谋杀人罪。
• He claimed that it was all a conspiracy against him.他声称这一切都是一场针对他的阴谋。

7 obstruction   

n.阻塞，堵塞；障碍物

参考例句：

• She was charged with obstruction of a police officer in the execution of his duty.她被指控妨碍警察执行任务。
• The road was cleared from obstruction.那条路已被清除了障碍。

8 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

9 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。

10 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

11 mentality   

n.心理，思想，脑力

参考例句：

• He has many years'experience of the criminal mentality.他研究犯罪心理有多年经验。
• Running a business requires a very different mentality from being a salaried employee.经营企业所要求具备的心态和上班族的心态截然不同。