Ex-O.C. Sheriff Carona Free On Appeal
Jul 27, 2009 8:28 pm US/Pacific
SANTA ANA (AP) – A federal appeals court has ruled that former Orange County Sheriff Michael Carona can remain free on bail while appealing his conviction on a witness tampering charge.
Carona was to have reported to prison on July 24 to begin his 5 1/2-year term.
But the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Monday that the former sheriff does not pose a flight risk and has raised a “substantial question” in his appeals case that could result in a verdict reversal, an order for a new trial or a sentence that doesn’t include prison time.
The U.S. Attorney’s office says it has no comment.
The witness-tampering charge stemmed from a secretly recorded conversation Carona had on Aug. 13, 2007, with Don Haidl, the key witness against him in the federal corruption trial.
Prosecutors maintained that Carona accepted more than $350,000 in cash and gifts from the wealthy businessman, and in return, made him an assistant sheriff, though Haidl lacked a law enforcement background.
The central point of Carona’s appeal centers on California State Bar Rule 2-100, which bars opposing lawyers from contacting someone involved in the case who has a lawyer. Defense attorney Jeffrey Rawitz said prosecutors violated that rule when they sent Haidl, who was wired for sound, to meet with Carona.
The former sheriff was acquitted in January of conspiracy, mail fraud and a second witness tampering count in a sweeping public corruption case that stretched back to 1998.
Carona served as sheriff from January 1999 through January 2008. He stepped down after being indicted to concentrate on his defense.
fartget ass pig needs to go to jail
It is a known fact that Mike Corona and his family are drug addicted. Isn’t using drugs a violation of probation ? Has Mike Corona’s biological fathers family been investigated for their involvement and/or impact on the witnesses involved in this case? Jeff Levin, Mike Corona’s biological father, is a known heroin addict and pedophile, with a long-standing criminal record !!! I suggest they move quickly to close this case and provide protection to all witnesses that are still being harassed by Corona’s father’s family, for providing honest and accurate information regarding drug trafficking in OC and the corruption of the OC Sheriff’s department!!