Carona asks judge to spare him prison sentence
Former Orange County Sheriff Michael S. Carona’s attorneys say he deserves no more than probation for leaning on an assistant sheriff to lie to a grand jury that was investigating corruption allegations in the law enforcement agency.
Carona maintains that former Assistant Sheriff Don Haidl guided the secretly recorded conversation, which led to a felony witness tampering conviction.
Defense attorney Jeffrey Rawitz also argued in a legal brief filed today that if a stiffer sentence is imposed, it should be some type of home or community confinement rather than a federal prison, partly because of the potential risk Carona may face due to his career in law enforcement.
Rawitz contends the government’s request for nine years in prison is over-reaching and ignores the fact that the federal court jury acquitted Carona of five others charges and rejected the theory that the ex-lawman conspired to misuse the powers of his office to enrich himself and his inner circle with cash and gifts worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Citing letters from law enforcement officials and other members of the community, Rawitz asked U.S. District Judge Andrew Guilford to consider Carona’s public service records, especially his work helping children and fighting gangs.
The letters were filed under seal, but Rawitz quotes from several of them, including one from Erin Runnion, the mother of 5-year-old Samantha Runnion. The capture of the Stanton girl’s killer propelled Carona to national prominence, and the 2002 case fueled nationwide acceptance of the Amber Alert system designed to help track down missing children.
Carona is scheduled to be sentenced Monday. Probation officers have recommended that he serve 6 1/2 years in prison.
Last week, Carona’s defense team asked Guilford to allow him to remain free while they appeal the lone conviction.
-- Christine Hanley
Photo: Michael S. Carona. Credit: Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times
Why would Carona want Hadl to lie unless he had something to hide? Carona was found not guilty of corruption because of legal technicalities. It does not mean that he is innocent. He should be sentenced to the maximum term.
Posted by: Warren | April 21, 2009 at 02:01 PM
Carona got away with way too much already thanks to a corrupt jury. Give him the maximum allowed for whatever he was found guilty of. This case sure was messed up by that jury. Can we charge the crooked jurors with crimes?
Posted by: Brian | April 21, 2009 at 02:35 PM
i thought a sheriff's duty was to uphold the law and PRACTICE it....
judge, i expect you to honor justice and do the right thing....
lock the guy up and throw away the key!!!
who knows how many innocent people this guy put away for money??
Posted by: s.o | April 21, 2009 at 03:05 PM
Felony witness tampering conviction and he basically wants to walk? To quote many others (probably including Carona), "If you can't do the time, don't do the crime."
Posted by: Chunkdog | April 21, 2009 at 03:31 PM
Corona, his wife and his lover should all go to prison!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Liza | April 21, 2009 at 03:42 PM
Why should he be treated any differently than any other convicted felon - let him go to jail and serve his time.
Posted by: Paula | April 21, 2009 at 04:49 PM
Quite absurd.
Corrupt cops are the worst possible criminals.
Why the hell should he walk? White Old Boys are at it again circumventing the justice system.
Jail him and make it stick.
Posted by: Jim | April 21, 2009 at 05:40 PM
You are concerned for your safety in prison? No problem Corona - you are not the first corrupt cop to get busted. You will be separated from the general population, as you (I hope) serve your nine year prison sentence.
Is it just me, or does anyone else have a growing admiration for Martha Stewart as just about the only white-collar criminal in recent memory to just shut up, serve her time, and be done with it?
Posted by: Sam | April 22, 2009 at 01:26 PM