Video recording system found in O.C. ex-Sheriff Carona's office
The matter is turned over to prosecutors in his upcoming corruption trial. Carona's lawyers say the cameras were simply for security and had no audio.
Acting Orange County Sheriff Jack Anderson has informed federal prosecutors that he found a hidden video recording system inside the office of former Sheriff Michael S. Carona, but Carona's lawyers said today that the cameras were for security purposes and contained no audio.
Anderson sent the Board of Supervisors an e-mail Thursday informing them of his discovery and telling them he had passed the information to federal authorities to see if it could be useful in Carona's upcoming political corruption trial.
"The matter has been turned over to the U.S. attorney's office, where they are working in conjunction with the FBI to further investigate the matter. As it is under investigation, I cannot comment further," Anderson said in a statement.
Carona attorney Jeff Rawitz downplayed the significance of the recording system, saying the cameras were installed for security purposes, contained no audio and were monitored by Carona's dignitary protection unit. Many senior members of Carona's staff were aware of the system, Rawitz said.
The Sheriff's Department installed the equipment because of concern about some thefts from Carona's office and because Carona's appointment as a special advisor to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security required him to keep national security documents in the office, Rawitz said.
The system was motion-activated and focused on Carona's desk and other locations that an intruder might target, Rawitz said.
"It was a security system consistent with what many companies use to monitor sensitive locations after hours. Mike did not operate the system, access the system and has never seen any of the videos recorded by the system. It was purely for security purposes," Rawitz said.
"It's surprising that Sheriff Anderson was unaware of its existence, but perhaps that's because he never occupied Sheriff Carona's office."
Anderson, who took over as interim sheriff after Carona resigned in January, has not moved into Carona's office, saying it should be used only by the person the Board of Supervisors appoints as Carona's successor. He found the equipment earlier this week, a source familiar with the matter said today.
Although federal authorities intend to inspect the equipment, Rawitz said, "I expect it to have no evidentiary value whatsoever."
stuart.pfeifer@latimes.com
