Judge Refuses to Throw Out Carona’s Conviction
SANTA ANA — A federal judge has upheld the witness-tampering conviction against former Orange County Sheriff Michael Carona. brbrU.S. District Judge Andrew Guilford denied Carona’s motion Tuesday to set aside the felony conviction and also denied two other motions aimed at undoing the jury verdict.brnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; brCarona attorney John Cline argued that his clients conviction was irrelevant because prosecutors charged the former lawman under the wrong statute.brnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; brA federal jury convicted Carona in January on the single count of witness tampering and acquitted him of five other felony counts, including conspiracy, mail fraud and witness tampering.brbrThe witness tampering charge stems from Carona’s attempts to have former Assistant Sheriff Don Haidl lie to a grand jury that was investigating the sheriff’s administration.brbrThe probation department has recommended a prison sentence of 6½ years.brnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; brProsecutors dropped charges against Carona’s wife and former mistress.brbrSentencing is set for April 27.brbrbrbrbrbrbrbr
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