INGLEWOOD – An Inglewood detective is scheduled to be sentenced on federal drug trafficking charges on June 3, according to documents filed in the case.
John Abel Baca, is a 21 year employee of the Inglewood Police Department, who has plead guilty to stealing dope from the departments property room in order to sell for personal gain.
Although his police powers were revoked, department insiders allege an internal affairs investigation has either not been initiated or has not yet concluded.
Documents filed on Jan. 11 requested the sentencing be continued which the judge granted the following day.
“The Court has read and considered the Stipulation to Continue the Sentencing Hearing and Related Dates, filed by the parties in this matter. The Court hereby finds that the Stipulation, which the Court incorporates by reference into this Order, demonstrates facts that support a continuance of the sentencing date in this matter.”
The document give hard deadlines that need to be met prior to sentencing.
“Each party shall file, no later than May 13, 2024, either: (a) its initial sentencing pleading, containing its objections to the PSR (if any) together with its position regarding sentencing; or (b) a notice that the party has no objections to the PSR and has elected not to file a position regarding sentencing. b. Each party shall file, no later than May 20, 2024, either: (a) its response to the other party’s initial sentencing pleading, containing its responses to the other party’s objections to the PSR (if any) together with its responses to the other party’s position regarding sentencing; or (b) a notice that the party has elected not to file a response. c. No later than May 27, 2024, the USPPO shall prepare and provide to the parties and the court the final PSR together with an addendum addressing any objections to the PSR and the parties’ sentencing positions.”
Baca admitted to distributing cocaine on two separate occasions in 2021.
Baca gave cocaine to a cooperating witness, then gave a kilogram of cocaine to that same witness in exchange for $22,000, the DOJ said in a news release.
According to the plea agreement, in February 2021, the CW informed the FBI that Baca, then an active-duty IPD officer, previously had offered to sell the CW one kilogram of cocaine, two kilograms of “White China” heroin, and an unlimited supply of black tar heroin. The CW reported that Baca claimed to have stolen drugs and cash during routine traffic stops that Baca made as a drug task for officer with IPD.
During a covertly recorded meeting in late April 2021, Baca provided a sample of the cocaine to the CW to provide to purported buyers. Several days later, Baca negotiated the price for one kilogram of cocaine – $22,000 in cash – and then delivered a brick of cocaine to the CW’s workplace on May 4, 2021. Later the same day, Baca collected $22,000 in cash from the CW’s residence.
In the plea agreement, Baca admitted that he abused his position of trust as a police officer, including by stealing drugs from IPD’s lock-up and reselling them.
“How Baca had unfettered access to the department’s property room and no one knew about is mind-boggling,” said a former Inglewood employee who declined to be named. “Why aren’t audits being performed on the contents in the property room?”
Inglewood Chief of Police Mark Fronterotta has made no public comments since the announcement Baca agreed to plead guilty.
Baca enjoyed a close relationship with Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts Jr.
Records show the “James Butts for Mayor 2014” campaign paid Baca $2,000 out of his campaign account. The payment was labeled as a “donation”. At the time Baca served as the Vice-President of the Inglewood Police Officers Association.
The mayor initially disputed that any payments were provided to Baca until he was provided with a copy of his campaign expenditure form.
“I don’t have control over who my campaigns pay,” said Butts, after reviewing the form.
All California Form 460s, which lists both contributions and expenditures for political campaigns, are required to be signed by the candidate. Butts has signed all forms associated with his multiple campaigns.
Baca faces a possible sentence of up to 20 years. He was due to be sentenced on February 5 but that will now take place June 3.