6 Los Angeles Deputies On Trial For Misconduct At Men’s Central Jail – Jury Should Get The Case Tomorrow

Twenty-One Los Angeles Sheriff Deputies have been indicted in federal court on charges of obstruction of justice and other civil rights violations.  One trial – involving six of the deputies – is coming to a close.  Arguments have been made and the jury is expected to have the case on Thursday, June 26. 

This first case involves allegations that deputies purposefully hid Anthony Brown from the FBI, after learning that he was an informant for the FBI in an investigation of the conditions of Men’s Central Jail.  According to Victoria Kim of the Los Angeles Times, “Lt. Greg Thompson and deputies Gerard Smith and Mickey Manzo allegedly moved federal informant Anthony Brown around in the jails, including the infectious disease wing, keeping him hidden under false names when both his FBI handlers and the U.S. Marshals Service, with a grand jury writ, were looking for him. Craig, Sgt. Maricela Long and Lt. Stephen Leavins are accused of telling witnesses not to cooperate with the FBI and threatening to arrest an FBI agent, falsely telling her there was an impending warrant.”  (The full article can be read here:  http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-deputy-trial-20140624-story.html).

The defense is arguing that these were simply “worker bees” following orders.  This “Nuremburg Defense” is not recognized in law.  And the U.S. Attorney who is trying the case – Brandon Fox – stated so in his rebuttal argument, arguing that “To the extent that they're ever charged, that's for another jury, another day.”

This defense may help sway a juror who doesn’t want to hold a law enforcement officer accountable for misconduct.  But at a minimum, we need to hold those who arrest others to the same standards as those they arrest.