Diaz, a 17-year Bakersfield cop, worked on 32 cases involving 53 defendants, with 20 requiring letters, she said. Did Coach White encourage you to use any of his style when youre teaching or coaching? That day I was fifth runner and I felt so much pressure, but you know, lucky we were able to pull it off. The legendary former McFarland They were cross country state champs in 1987, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000 and 2001. Atty. Diaz initially became well-known after the release of 2015 Disney movie, McFarland USA, starring Kevin Costner.. We love our dad. DAMACIO DIAZ : Us training together, maam? Diazs attorney, David Torres, was clearly relieved by the judges decision. He literally would buy us shoes, feed us, counsel us, console us when we lost, that kinda stuff. Whether it be Burglary, Financial Crimes Detail, Homicide, Narcotics Investigations, Sexual Assault, Special Enforcement (Gang), or Vice, he worked in every department at one point or the other. I am excited to share with you another great interview from my McFarland, USA press trip. Hes a pretty good coach, too. Diaz will be sentenced for three federal counts on October 3rd. His viewpoint of not changing too much from that aspect I see a definite change. And thatsthe one we have now. Like in the movie, Thomas Valles went to an overpass above Highway 99 one night after his parents got into a horrible fight. The love they genuinely have for him was heartfelt and true. It was indeed the first time that many of the kids ever saw the ocean. Disgraced cop's 5-year sentence a fraction of prosection's recommendation, Corrupt cops compel Kern DA to inform defense attorneys about 'tainted' cases. [LAUGHS] So, just to let yall know were proud of what Hollywood did and what Niki and the producer and everyone did, but we lived in a very, very strict environment and still do to this day. Damacio Diaz, 44, was sentenced Monday for bribery, possession and attempted possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and making and subscribing a false income tax return,. But Bakersfield Police Chief Greg Williamson said the federal and internal inquiries after 18 months cleared them all. Damacio Diaz, former BPD detective who stole drugs and put them back on the street, released from custody We basically told our story, got interviewed for hours and hour and hours, and that was pretty much it. Two misdemeanor prostitution cases in which Diaz as an undercover detective was the only witness have already been dismissed. Its hard to understand how he could do both.. The film is based on a true story, about how American cross country coach James "Jim" White coached the team of Hispanic kids at McFarland High School, from nobodies to mysteries to the racing community. Raul was also a runner on the team when his sister was killed. Early on, ONeill seemed to be signaling he was taking a hard-line stance. Our third man, Jose, he just-. Its a poor community. Kevin Costner (Coach Jim White) and Diana Maria Riva (Seora Diaz) in McFarland, USA. Some, like David Diaz, became teachers themselves. But Mr. White was our second father. Former Bakersfield Police Department Detective Damacio Diaz with his wife, Courtney, and their children leaving U.S. District Court in Fresno after his 2016 sentencing. All of a sudden I saw these headlights and it was Mr. White in his '59 Chevy." Acting U.S. Atty. Diaz was a member of the team that won the state championship. teacher. No. Second former BPD cop could receive up to 27 years, but Deputies agree to plead guilty to drug charge in case connected to disgraced BPD cop, VIDEO: Christmas wonderland featuring the Grinch Mobile, Graphic Content: 2014 homicide of Abel Trujillo, Kern County Public Health Services Department, Mansion's $3M sale tops high-end price trend, California community colleges rely too much on part-time faculty and misspend funds, audit finds, Frontier's Estrada repeats as 145-pound state boys wrestling champion; Golden Valley's Roby is runner-up in girls 189, Aera sells to German energy investor, Canadian pension fund, Home prices still under pressure as Bakersfields median skids, PHOTO GALLERY: Day 3 of the 3-day CIF State Wrestling Championships, PHOTO GALLERY: Day 2 of the 3-day CIF State Wrestling Championships, PHOTO GALLERY: Day 1 of March Meet at Famoso Raceway, PHOTO GALLERY: Opening day of the 3-day CIF State Wrestling Championships, PHOTO GALLERY: Kennedy hosts Delano in the Central Section Division V boys soccer championship, PHOTO GALLERY: 'It keeps them wanting to come to school': Shirley Lane Elementary celebrates Read Across America, PHOTO GALLERY: 'A beautiful Black History Month party', PHOTO GALLERY: Cold snap causes snow, road closures near Frazier Park, PHOTO GALLERY: CALM's black bear Cid makes Super Bowl pick. Yes. Diaz then began cooperating with federal investigators and named other cops he said were corrupt. Disneys McFarland, USA, is helping to put the Diazs hometown on the map across the globe. All seven Diaz children went to college and all seven returned to McFarland where they live today. The former teammates arenot only working in their hometown, but also raising their families there andactively supporting the cross-country teams of today by coaching, helping outwith the meets and practices and donating goods or money so the teams havewhat they need. And so, we have kids that are in high school and some that are in elementary school. Diaz became well-known after being portrayed in the 2015 Disney movie, McFarland USA, starring Kevin Costner, about the transformation of a running team in McFarland. We started picking and hoeing and raking and doing everything you could possibly think of. And we try to trip him up on that, and hes very smart in that regard. Former Bakersfield police detective Damacio Diaz was sentenced Monday in federal court to five years in prison.He pleaded guilty earlier this year to charges. During the investigation, five other officers were placed on administrative leave related to the investigation and one recently resigned. In a highly charged hearing packed with family members and supporters of the former cop, U.S. District Judge Lawrence ONeill indicated during the nearly two-hour hearing that the case was among the most difficult and emotional hes encountered in all his years on the bench. DAMACIO DIAZ : And if I can add to that. This included members of the Bakersfield High Drillers. Those suckers are, are steep. We were about seven or eight years old when all that began. Although, David did add that his mom is actually much more strict than she is made to bein the movie. Damacio Diaz (R) and guest attend the Bakersfield Special Screening of "McFarland, USA" in Bakersfield, CA on Feb. 15th, 2015. [CHUCKLES] When we were growing up, maybe seven, eight, nine, ten thousand people is the population. -LA Times. pic.twitter.com/qKxl7i5dfn. "I was standing there. This hearing is not about telling someone they are no good, ONeill said. Though according to Damacios own account in the Hulu production, his dreams and aspirations took a complete turn once he witnessed some adrenaline-pumping, actual police work first-hand. Dozens of Coach Jim White's runners ended up going to college or into the armed forces. Mara said that when he partnered up with Diaz in spring 2012, Diaz walked out of a bedroom and handed him a few hundred dollars, while he stuck a large amount of money into his own pockets, according to court papers. So, my dad worked ten, twelve, thirteen, fourteen hours a day sometimes and both of them [his parents] come from large families. DANNY DIAZ : We, we love basketball. FRESNO, Calif. Damacio Diaz, 44, of McFarland, formerly a detective with the Bakersfield Police Department, pleaded guilty today to bribery, possession and attempted possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and making and subscribing a false income tax return, Acting United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. Is that how the last race happened? I didnt enjoy it very much. Additionally, Coach White would be there for counseling and fulfilling needs beyond what their parents could afford. We, we basically told our story, got interviewed for hours and hour and hours, and that was pretty much it. The disgraceful and criminal behavior of Diaz and Mara has gravely impacted the Bakersfield Police Department as well as our community as a whole, she said. Patrick Mara, center, speaks while flanked by attorney Fred Gagliardini. But U.S. Atty. Both girls were on this trip to a meet in Santa Maria and the beachs, and these photos are from Silvia's album, which her family had saved. As you pull into McFarland, you will know notice a silhouette of a runner running through an open field. Disney turned it into a. Updated: May 11, 2020 / 06:23 PM PDT BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) Disgraced former Bakersfield police detective Damacio Diaz has been released from custody after serving a federal term for stealing drugs during the course of his police work and putting them back on the street. Both men are currently in halfway houses, Diaz in the Sacramento area and Mara in the Long Beach area. And he did. They were very respectful and well-mannered towards him, treating him with much respect as we talked. DANNY DIAZ : Once you give them your story, obviously you sign with them. In the movie, you [Coach White] spent a day picking in the fields with the boys. We have also done internal investigations on many allegations that were made and once again they have been unable to uncover anything. So the only way I could get some of them into some of the fields that I had to do the work with them. And he told me I want them to get their education, so I will go back and get my education. ONeill instructed Delaney to directly telephone the warden of the prison assigned to receive Diaz in order to help ensure the safety of the former cop who will soon find himself behind bars. But federal agents arrested him at work today. Damacio Diaz was sitting in his car alongside informant Guillermo "Memo" Magallanes. His life story had been portrayed in the Disney movie "McFarland, USA". When the informant left, the narcotics detective found just under $1,000 in the passenger-side door pocket. Los Angeles, Downtown L.A stabbing sends six to hospital; 1 arrested, San Diego Roman Catholic diocese facing yet another lawsuit from its insurance company, K-Pop isnt the only hot ticket in Koreatown how trot is captivating immigrants, Los Angeles is suddenly awash in waterfalls, Officials unprepared for epic mountain blizzard, leaving many trapped and desperate. Coach Jim White Interview & the Diaz Family Looks Back, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile. -KGET 17. The most police executions. Then the following season, we were ranked number one for the entire season. Twitter.