What happened to Danny Diaz McFarland USA?
Disgraced former Bakersfield Police Department detective Damacio Diaz, one of the real-life heroes of the movie “McFarland USA,” was sentenced Monday in U.S. District Court in Fresno to five years in federal prison – a far more lenient sentence than prosecutors had urged – for a litany of offenses, including drug …
Is movie McFarland a true story?
Based on the true story of a 1987 cross country team from a mainly Latino high school in McFarland, California, the film stars Kevin Costner as Jim White, the school’s coach, who leads the team to win a state championship.
Why did damacio Diaz go to jail?
In 2016, Diaz, 48, was sentenced for “federal programs bribery, possession and attempted possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and making and subscribing a false income tax return.” Along with fellow BPD Detective Patrick Mara, 40, the two were sentenced to five years in federal prison.
Why did coach White get fired?
The film depicts him as a football coach in Boise, Idaho in 1987, who lost his temper with a back-talking student, threw a shoe at the kid’s head, and was fired.
Who dies in McFarland USA movie?
The McFarland girls cross country team competes in the South Area race in Hart Park in Bakersfield on November 13, 1986. In the two photos above, Norma Gonzalez and Hollie Wycoff after their race at the South Area championships, still grieving following the deaths of teammates Silvia Diaz and Herlinda Gonzalez.
Why does Mr White leave Boise Idaho in 1987?
1987. Jim White, a high school teacher and football coach, has been fired from one job after another, as the desired end of getting people to do the right thing in his mind has not always justified his sometimes impetuous and spontaneous actions as the means.
Who is Johnny Samaniego in McFarland?
Johnny Samaniego is currently a middle school teacher, coach, and athletic director at McFarland Middle School. He was the successor to coach Jim White’s position at the McFarland Unified School District, teaching physical education at the middle school and coaching various sports at the his high school alma mater.
What did Damacio Diaz do in McFarland USA?
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, according to the U.S. attorney’s office. A U.S. district judge ordered Diaz to begin serving his sentence on Dec. 5.
Is there a shooting at McFarland High School?
“There’s been shootings there,” Danny Diaz, a McFarland native and one of the town’s former cross country stars, said pointing at the red-and-white playground near McFarland High School. “With my kids playing basketball, and my kids are running, and bullets are flying.”
What was the police scandal in McFarland CA?
The scandal was only the beginning of years of mistrust between the community and its police department. McFarland native and City Councilman Rafael Melendez said since taking office in 2012, he’s fielded countless complaints about everything from police harassing farmworkers to cops giving preferential treatment to friends.
What kind of town is McFarland, CA?
This farming town in California’s Central Valley was celebrated in a Disney movie for its against-all-odds high school cross country team. But over the last decade, it’s built another reputation: a destination for cops running from unsavory pasts.