Free Republic

A federal judge has ruled defense lawyers for Lee Baca will not be allowed to call an Alzheimer’s expert to testify at the former L.A. County Sheriff’s upcoming corruption retrial. U.S. District Court Judge Percy Anderson granted in a written ruling the prosecutors’ motion to exclude the testimony of Dr. James Spar, who defense lawyers said would tell jurors it was possible Baca was suffering from the early effects of Alzheimer’s disease during one relevant event. “Evidence linking defendant’s current diagnosis to the charges is entirely speculative and inadmissible, is the product of unreliable methodology, artificially limited facts, and bare...

Muslims and LA County sheriff launch anti-terrorism initiative PETER PRENGAMAN Associated Press LOS ANGELES - Muslim leaders from Southern California and Sheriff Lee Baca launched an initiative Wednesday to increase cooperation in the fight against terrorism and expand the role of American Muslims in denouncing extremist groups like al-Qaida. The Muslim-American Homeland Security Congress, with representation from nearly every prominent Muslim organization in Southern California, will share information on possible terrorist threats, create a youth council to reach Muslims who might feel alienated in American society and give religious leaders a collective platform to condemn terrorist acts. "Together, we will...

FORMER San Bernardino County Sheriff Floyd Tidwell's plea bargain on charges of stealing more than 500 guns during his tenure has led to a reduced sentence that saves the public nothing, even as it saves Tidwell from going to prison. Justice, indeed, has been cheated. And so have law-abiding citizens, who expect that San Bernardino County's one-time top law enforcement officer be held liable for his transgressions. Instead, Judge J. Michael Welch on Tuesday reduced Tidwell's felony charges to misdemeanors, sentenced him to three years' probation and fined him $10,000. Welch seemed to wink and look the other way at...