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LASD Deputy James Sexton Retrial, Day 2 – Opening Statements



We’ll have more on the retrial of Los Angeles Sheriff’s Deputy James Sexton
later in the week. In the meantime, take a look at this story by Douglas Morino of the Los Angeles Register about Day 2 of the proceedings.

The day featured opening statements by the prosecution and the defense, plus testimony from FBI Special Agent David Dahle.

Here’s a clip:

Jurors began hearing evidence Wednesday in the retrial of [James] Sexton, a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy charged with conspiracy and obstruction of justice, in the courtroom of U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson. Sexton’s first trial ended in May with the jury deadlocked 6-6.

U.S. prosecutors say Sexton was part of an effort to block a federal probe into allegations of corruption and deputy violence against inmates inside the county’s jails. The conspiracy stretched through a roughly two-month period in 2011 and was aimed at blocking FBI agents from interviewing Anthony Brown, an inmate providing information about corrupt deputies and other misconduct, prosecutors said.

“James Sexton and his co-conspirators took steps to ensure the evils and troubles inside the jail system would never see the light of day,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Fox told the jury of five men and seven women in his opening statement. “The defendant knew what the goal was – he titled it ‘Operation Pandora’s Box.’”

Thomas O’Brien, Sexton’s attorney, said the deputy was simply following orders that came from the Sheriff’s Department’s highest levels – former Sheriff Lee Baca and Undersheriff Paul Tanaka – to protect Brown, a career criminal facing a 423-year sentence in state prison, from other inmates and rogue deputies who labeled him a “snitch.”

“A junior deputy is facing charges for doing nothing more than following orders and keeping an inmate safe and out of harm,” O’Brien told jurors during his opening statement….

25 Comments

  • Did Sexton give testimony to the grand jury that he knew the FBI was closing in and would use smoke and mirrors to hide Brown?

    To those of you who have disputed my assertion that at the time the caper was going down, Sexton was a willing participant;
    NEXT.

  • With Judge Anderson’s approval, The federal government is striking the phrases like, “I heard” and “the rumor was” from James Sexton’s grand jury testimony.

    For example “I heard we were hiding this guy from the FBI”. That is now changed to “we were hiding him from the FBI”. “The Rumor was that we knew the FBI had a removal order” That is now changed to “We knew the FBI had a removal order” Now when these transcripts are read to the jury, they are reading the altered versions. AKA Not the true versions, AKA the LIES.

    So let me get this straight. The Feds are prosecuting LASD personnel for making their own version of the truth, which is: that we didn’t know what the hell was going on at the time, so we kept Brown away from everyone and that we were protecting him.

    Our guys are getting prosecuted for bending the truth to fit our narrative. And in order to conduct the prosecution, the A/US Attorneys are suppressing, bending, and omitting the truth to fit the narrative they require to bring down a guilty verdict.

    This who thing seems like it has been written for the screen by Joseph Heller.

    Absolutely immoral and insane.

  • James Sexton’s grand jury testimony had been coached through 37 voluntary meetings with the FBI and A/USA, where they pumped him up to say exactly what they wanted him to say, all the while assuring him he wasn’t a target, and sure, wink wink, we’ll take a look at your application packet to the FBI as soon as we’re done here. Jesus. Read the writing on the walls. This isn’t about justice. It’s about stats. It’s about the win, at the expense of the truth. WAKE UP.

  • There is more to that statement that what you are quoting. For one the Judge has allowed the FBI to pick and choose his testimony and what the jury will hear. That is not giving them the whole truth. I can tell you I am going to kill you and in the same breath then say You know I’m not serious, but the Feds leave out the not serious part. Why are they afraid to allow his full testimony? What is being read to the jury is censored!!!!!! NEXT!!!!

  • Oh Well,

    Love your enthusiasm about convicting Sexton, but the second trial is doing what it is supposed to do: shed facts into the situation.

    A couple of things have come out. Sexton was contacted 90 days after “Operation Summer Security” by a life long friend in the FBI who told him Rathbun and he were grave danger.

    He consensually spoke with them regarding those issues and under the advisement he was a “witness” disclosed information about orders he received from Greg Thompson and other rumors.

    SA Dahle and SA Marx have both stated he was wrong on several occasions and his testimony was deeply rooted in “scuttlebutt, rumors, and deputy gossip.”

    We also learned over 60 people participated in this entire event to include nurses, doctors, clerks, supervisors, and deputies….

    And the clerk EVERYBODY loves who said no…. Saw computer evidence presented where she/they ultimately changed information w access only they had per orders.

    I don’t like sexton as a person, but I respect his resolve and his work ethic.

    He is guilty of being naive and upset at PT and Greg Thompson. He is guilty of talking shit, like we all have at 23…

    He is not guilty of a conspiracy to obstruct justice.

    I hope he beats this, grows up, and returns to the fold to make us a better department.

  • What’s going on with the governments witnesses? Do they have anyone from LASD cooperating? Word from the audience is questioning by the prosecution is much shorter. Does the prosecution have an ace up their sleeve coming to the stand next week?

  • My enthusiasm to convict a Sexton? Right. That’s why I’ve stated since day one NONE of the six belong in prison.
    This all started because I said Sexton was getting all the love while nobody was backing Manzo and Smith on this blog.
    I don’t want to see any of them in prison, but I won’t lose any sleep over it either.
    They get what they get.

  • Hardy Boys, you’re 100% right. I’m only scratching the surface of how deeply the FBI is altering, and fragmenting Sexton’s statements in order to win a conviction, irrespective of what is actually true.

    Sexton was heavily coached in his first 37 meetings with the FBI to really hit a home run. Really make it clear how dirty Paul Tanaka, Greg Thompson and Leroy Baca were. Sexton was angry, especially at Thompson, who had exposed Sexton and Rathbun to death threats and retaliation from other deputies when Thompson outed the partners as informing on deputies dealing dope in MCJ.

    The FBI manipulated that anger, made sure Sexton gave a real hot speech at the grand jury, all the while, Sexton thinks he’s helping the FBI put Thompson and Tanaka on the cross… they are double crossing Sexton.

    Anyone who refuses to admit the immorality of what the FBI has done to Sexton is either blind, feeble minded or in denial. This is just plain wrong.

  • There never was a writ.There was never a removal order seen by any of the line OSJ deputies. It was never served.

    Grand jury testimony clearly shows that:

    While sitting on Anthony Brown at San Dimas Station, deputies Rathbun and Sexton agreed that if the FBI/AUSA arrived with appropriate paperwork, they were going to turn Anthony Brown over without question.

    If the two deputies were willing to turn Anthony Brown over when/if given hard evidence of a federal investigation and that investigations’ need for custody of Anthony Brown, then they aren’t exactly guilty are they? There is just too much rewriting of history going on in this second trial. The truth needs to be remembered.

  • For “Oh Well” not to lose any sleep over this trial………he sure is “staying awake” to opinionate every thing. Obviously he’s retired or I.O.D.

    To “Oh Well” Give it a break already. Sexton is being tried in Federal Court, not on WITNESS LA. @8…..He gave you the real life version of James, as well as “Wild Turkey” You can’t accept facts, can you?

  • I figured “Oh We’ll” is either Smith or Manzo because his remark “to spread the love ” is just down right stupid!!! Manzo and Smith had their day in court and sorry it didn’t go your way. Sexton is having his!!!! Now let’s see where the chips fall. God speed Sexton!!!!!

  • Finally deputies can connect the dots…………, starting with Paul Tanaka > Lt. Thompson > OSJ > Sexton (Rathbun)…….> Legal representation > ALADS > Floyd Hayhurst (Then ALADS President & Tanaka backer) > to “flim flam” Sexton with bogus instructions to meet a > “no- show” attorney. > (That explains part of the legal Riff-Raff. It was a block to protect Tanaka).

    Exposure will kick LASD and ALADS in the ASS. It’s been a long time coming. It would be wise for ALADS to settle out of court with Sexton……Trust me!

  • My oh my. Ask a few tough questions and here comes the venom. For all you Johnny Come Lately commenters who are convinced I’m hoping for a Sexton conviction, go back and read my comment from August 31st. Nevermind, I’ll re-quote it in case you’re too lazy or too close minded to accept anything that doesn’t fit your narrative or your ill conceived opinion of where I stand on this.

    “I’m not rooting for anybody in this clusterfuck abortion. They get what they get. The only reason I would be happy about a Sexton acquittal is because the feds need to kicked in the nuts for even going after him again”.

    There you go. Along with me stating several times NONE of them belong in prison over this bullshit.
    I’m not in the Sexton fan club. Those of you who are are the ones who need to “give it a rest”. Because I ask tough questions and bring up very inconvenient facts, you go off the deep end with your responses. Your prerogative. All it really does is show any unbiased and clear thinking person your emotional attachment to the outcome.

  • The “Save Our Six” ……S.O.S. equates to “Stupid Old Shit” (I truly take exception to Manzo & Smith only because they operated in good faith and trust being loyal to the 3 Stripers & Brass). The Sheriff Department has went from its “Heyday to Mayday” with the latest round of convictions.

    This whole “Pandora Box” fiasco was bound to happen. It is not the first nor will it be the last incident of “being caught with our pants down” Unfortunately this has tempered LASD to improve its image and start a “New Chapter”.

    Good luck to the new generation of LASD………and may you make the best of it.

  • Again, Oh We’ll, you have stated you don’t care about Sexton or the out come, Oh We’ll I beg to differ!!! I am not afraid of the tough question as long as the facts of the question are correct!!! You ask questions that can’t be truthfully answered. We you have a butchered Grand Jury statement that has been censored in the Prosecutions favor, sorry but there isn’t an answer to that. I have asked several times—- ARE YOU LISTENING MR. FOX???? WHY WON’T YOU LET ALL THE FACTS IN THIS CASE BE HEARD????? WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF????? AN ACQUITTAL??????? That’s what I thought!!!!!!

  • Oh We’ll— just one last thing and I am through going back and forth with you. There isn’t anything wrong with those that support Sexton. He like you said doesn’t belong in jail. The tough questions answers should have come out in court but Judge Anderson and Brandon Fox changed all that. As I have said before Manzo and Smith’s trial is over. Good luck to them on appeal!!! Yes, I support Sexton, his family and the injustice that he has received. The dirty dealings the FEDS have stooped so low, just to ruin a young mans life is inexcusable!! God Speed Sexton and yes, today is Saturday so, I must say it, ROLL TIDE!!!!!!!

  • @ Oh Well….I’m not here to slam you regarding your feelings toward Deputy Sexton, but you do have “Key Phrases” ….. Saying (1) “I’m not in the Sexton fan club” along with (2) “those of you who are. ……”
    Just because people/deputies want a win, I would imagine that any win would benefit everyone due to the previous losses (convictions). I believe a win would also show the Feds that portions of their case was weak.
    I’m not a friend of Deputy Sexton, however I hope he wins. Sexton was shanked in the back by Lt.Thompson along with ALADS (I have personal knowledge).
    Karma is a Bitch.

  • Interesting and Hardy,
    Make no mistake about it. I’m NOT rooting for the feds either. This all started due to the numerous rebuttals I received when I stated my opinion that at the time the caper went down, Sexton knew what he was doing. That’s what got the ball rolling. I’ve stated that the feds have no business going after him again. I’ve stated that the feds are trying to royally fuck him. It appears none of that matters to those who take exception with my belief that at the time the caper went down, Sexton knew what he was doing. I took a lot of hear for that, and I have simply responded.
    I use phrases like “Sexton’s fan club” because it’s plainly obvious that ANYTHING I say other than what those who are staunch supporters of Sexton want to hear, I’m a hater, I’m rooting for conviction, etc.
    So how about this.
    Deputy Sexton appears to be a fine young man who got caught up in wanting to please his bosses and is paying a very, VERY steep price for it because the feds. are trying to flex their muscles and teach the LASD a lesson.
    Can you live with that? Or must I tell you I think Sexton never knew that he was part of a caper that was at the very least a little shady.
    That isn’t going to happen. I have my opinion. It isn’t real popular. That doesn’t make it incorrect.

  • Oh well……I can say this….. and that is you do keep the dialogue open for candid discussion. It would be boring without differences of opinions between us deputies.

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