The O.C. Register is reporting that “Sheriff Mike Carona will resign today to focus on defending himself against public corruption charges, abruptly ending eight years of rocky leadership atop the county’s largest law enforcement agency.”
Here are a few excerpts from the Register’s article:
Carona will make his announcement on the department’s Web site, saying he will retire for the good of the department because he doesn’t want to be distracted while preparing for a June trial, H. Dean Steward, Carona’s attorney, said Sunday.
“While it’s a combination of factors that Mike decided to retire, one of the factors is his ability to focus on his defense,” Steward said. “He also wanted to make sure the department was ready for a smooth transition.”
By stepping down from his elected position, Carona will also be able to accept the free legal work offered by two top white-collar criminal attorneys. The California Attorney General’s Office has been reviewing since last month whether Carona’s use of the pro bono services would violate the state’s gift ban for public officials.
Plans for the change in the department’s leadership will be made public today. The Orange County Board of Supervisors will then appoint an interim sheriff for the job that will run through 2011, the end of Carona’s term. Several candidates have already expressed interest in the job, including Santa Ana Police Chief Paul Walters, Los Angeles Sheriff Cmdr. Ralph Martin and former Orange County Sheriff’s Lt. Bill Hunt.
Folks, this means Carona is in real trouble. I suspect he is headed for jail. And I am told there are more charges coming.
A Pajarito tells me that Santa Ana Police Chief Paul Walters has been meeting with key Deputies as he wants the interim Sheriff appointment. He will point to his success in building a new jail in Santa Ana. However, how will he answer when asked why Santa Ana leads the county in gang violence and graffiti? Moreover, the SAPD response time is not good – residents often complain that it takes forever to get any attention from the SAPD if minorities are involved, as opposed to white crime victims.
I think the best option would be L.A. Sheriff Commander Ralph Martin. Readers, what do you think?
Another question to ponder, to what extent will the Carona stigma haunt the OC GOP? I suspect this will not help them at all. The Republicans, particularly the folks at the Red-Faced County Blog have a lot of explaining to do. They continued to back Carona even after he was indicted. He is going to jail – they better start spinning some kind of response…
To use a famous quote from our gubernator – “Hasta La Vista, baby!”
Of the possible candidates for interim sheriff, I believe former OC Lt. Bill Hunt would be the most logical choice. He was obviously out of the loop of the goings on at the top and for daring to run against Carona as sheriff was promptly punished until he left the department.
Paul Walters is a good police manager and his department has made great strides from the knuckle draggers of the 80’s but the department still has problems. The term ‘protect and serve’ is often lost on the field officers who still have an ‘us vs them’ attitude. That thinking comes from the top.
Ralph Martin, or any LASD commander would also be a bad choice. While we all have focused on the OC sheriff’s department problems, LASD has had dozens of stories printed about problems with it. These sort of problems also are systemic of command structure problems. In addition LA county and OC are as different as night and day when it comes to operations.
Thus if given a choice I would prefer to see someone currently or previously within the OCSD that obviously was not part of Carona’s inner circle.
Your Pajarito is a dead canary.
The SAPD Chief Paul Walters is in.
Let’s hope the next sheriff finds a way to kill the virus that is spreading from Santa Ana to Garden Grove; spray paint cans in hand.
You’re an idiot, Art. Where did I “back Carona even after he was indicted”?
It’s entertaining to watch someone as truth-challenged as yourself lobbing rocks at Carona.
What a day to celebrate justice (and thank the feds)! One down, a dozen to go in the corrupt county circle. The boys over at Red County all have their pink leotards in a bunch.
Here’s a dilemma I see coming. Carona will have to tell the feds about other corrupt high-level goofballs to stay out of prison. How will that affect his “free” lawyer (paid for by lobbyists and others at the “powerful” county Republican core)? They’re all connected at the trough. Will the lawyers still work for “free” when faced with the choice of keeping Carona out of prison or keeping the likes of Tony Rackauckas and Susan Schroeder from being indicted?
I do see Carona’s resignation as acceptance of guilt. Orange Juice has been right on, and Scott Moxley at OC Weekly is a hero.
Hey Jubal, all that time waisted in the GOP meetings and bashing Bill Hunt supporters. I’m on the floor laughing right now. But, you’ll have some dictionary-aided superlatives to throw back at me. But, I’m still laughing. By the way, Shave that fuzz on your chin!
For Doug Storm to un-retire from the county would be somewhat complex, and potentially expensive for him. He has drawn retirement pay from the system (presumably) and that makes it a messy situation. Not impossible, but not simple. This situation could cause him to think twice, maybe even three times, about if and how much he wants the “honor” of being Sheriff. But, he would be a great place holder until the end of the current Carona term – perhaps he could even make some progress in cleaning up the joint!
The more important question is when is his wife going to resign from the Orange County Fair Board and can she get me some Fair Passes and concert tickets before she does? If anyone sees her please tell her to do right by her friends before she quits.
I wonder if Jon Fleischman is on vacation because the Flash Report failed to add it’s two cents on Carona’s resignation.
Fleischman has been in denial far more than Jubal.
Couldn’t President Bush pardon him?
I like the Picture of van Tran and the Sherrif. Is van Tran one of caronas Deputies?