Mike Carona's fall from "America's Sheriff" to convicted felon reached bottom Monday as a federal judge gave Orange County's former top law enforcement officer a half-hour lecture about honesty before sentencing him to 5 1/2 years in prison for attempting to obstruct a grand jury investigation.
"I need a sheriff I can trust," U.S. District Judge Andrew J. Guilford told Carona. "Lying will not be tolerated in this courtroom, especially by the county's highest-ranking law enforcement officer."
The sentence marks the final major act in a case that shadowed the state's second-largest sheriff's office for years and changed the reputation of an ambitious lawman who moved into the national spotlight in 2002 with the search for the killer of 5-year-old Samantha Runnion.
Back then, Carona was seen as a rising political star. But instead, a long-running federal investigation into allegations of misconduct led to his indictment on multiple counts of corruption. After a two-month trial, Carona was acquitted in January of five charges, but convicted of witness tampering.
The judge noted that a theme of Carona's campaigns for sheriff was that he would not coddle criminals.
"What goes around, comes around," Guilford said. "There will not be any coddling here."
The judge also expressed disappointment about Carona's post-verdict celebration outside the Santa Ana courthouse after the jury verdict.
At the time, the former sheriff had described the verdict as "an absolute miracle" that reflected the forgiveness of God. Carona, his family, attorneys and other supporters held a party about a week later that cost $3,700 at an Orange County restaurant. The Jones Day law firm, which represented him free of charge, picked up the tab.
"I cannot understand the unrestrained celebration and proclamations of innocence and complete vindication," Guilford said of the courthouse celebration.
As the judge handed down the sentence, Carona, 53, was stoic with chin up and lips pursed. His hands remained clasped on his lap. During his opportunity to speak to the court, he did not address the charges and simply thanked Guilford for his courtesy and for allowing him into the courtroom to contest the case.
The judge agreed to let Carona remain free on bail until July 24, in part so that he can attend his son's high school graduation. He asked prosecutors and defense attorneys to prepare arguments about whether Carona should continue to remain free on bail pending an appeal. In addition to the prison term, Guilford fined the former sheriff $125,000. Carona must serve 85% of his sentence before he will be eligible for release.
