Primary election takes place this week

On Tuesday, the seven-candidate pool of men who are vying for the position of Los Angeles County Sheriff will likely be cut down to two.

Unless, of course, one of them garners more than 50 percent of the popular vote.  In that case all bets will be off, and the new leader of the LASD will be announced.

This is the first time in more than a decade that Baca's name isn't on the ballot.  Although many believed he'd toss his hat into the ring for a fifth term, things changed quickly after a handful of indictments were handed down against sheriffs' deputies for inmate abuse and misconduct.

Shortly thereafter, Baca announced he'd be taking an early retirement.

So now, you have a wide open race, with no incumbent and no clear frontrunner.  The fate, future and forward direction of the LASD is completely up to the voters.

Meanwhile, back at the courthouse...

The trial for six former LASD deputies who were named in the federal corruption complaint forged ahead last week, as prosecutors argued the defendants engaged in a systematic scheme to hide an inmate-informant from investigators during the federal probe.

It's believed, they said, the plot was hatched as a way to keep him from talking.

Two of those on trial allegedly took things one step further, and showed up at federal prosecutor's doorstep in hopes of intimidating her to back down.

The executive director of the Citizens Commission of Jail Violence said that woman was told a criminal complaint was pending, and once it was filed, she'd be taken into custody.

Attorneys for the defendants, however, are saying the deputies shouldn't be held accountable for following direct orders.

A total of 20 deputies are facing federal charges, according to a county spokesperson and each is facing a possible15-year prison sentence if they're found guilty.