Michael S Carona

More than 40 business executives and other professionals appointed as special reserve deputies by erstwhile Orange County Sheriff Michael S. Carona have reported their badges and IDs lost or stolen, including his chief political and legal advisor Michael Schroeder -- who lost two shields.

Nearly one year after the indictment of former Orange County Sheriff Michael S. Carona, some 650 prospective jurors are expected to file into the Santa Ana federal courthouse today in the first step in choosing a jury for his upcoming corruption trial. Despite speculation in Orange County law enforcement circles that the case would end in a plea bargain before trial, all indications this week are that testimony would begin Oct. 28 as scheduled.

Michael S. Carona's life has been flipped on its side since federal prosecutors accused him of accepting tens of thousands of dollars in cash and gifts from people who wanted favors from him. Once one of the most recognizable faces in law enforcement, the former Orange County sheriff now lives largely out of the public eye.

A Folsom Prison inmate who claims to have supplied drugs to Broadcom Corp. billionaire Henry T. Nicholas III maintains in a federal racketeering lawsuit that he also delivered cocaine to Henry Samueli, the Anaheim Ducks owner and Nicholas' Broadcom co-founder, and former Orange County Sheriff Michael S. Carona. Brian Sun, Carona's attorney, said the allegation was "absolutely preposterous and a complete fabrication." Samueli attorney Gordon Greenberg didn't respond to phone calls and an e-mail.

Attorneys for former Orange County Sheriff Michael S. Carona revealed Tuesday that the government plans to present additional allegations against Carona during his upcoming corruption trial, and argued that they are entitled to the information before the trial later this month. Jeffrey Rawitz, one of Carona's attorneys, said the defense became aware of the allegations during pretrial discussions with prosecutors, and asked that details be turned over to them. Senior Assistant U.S. Atty.

During nearly a decade as Orange County's sheriff, Michael S. Carona strove to maintain a polished image as a family-oriented, conservative and charismatic crime-fighter who could comfort victims and captivate crowds with his thoughtful words and reverent manner.

Former Orange County Sheriff Michael S. Carona has lost his bid to have a prosecutor removed from his corruption case because of the prosecutor's role in the wiretapping of a government informant. Carona's attorneys had argued that Assistant U.S. Atty. Brett Sagel should be disqualified because he was the best witness regarding a bogus subpoena that former Assistant Sheriff Don Haidl took with him when he met with Carona and secretly taped conversations.

With tawdry moments that might play better to a Jerry Springer audience, jurors in Orange County are being introduced to the alleged sexual escapades and innuendoes that prosecutors say shape the corruption case against former Sheriff Michael S. Carona. With his trial hardly a week old, witnesses have been repeatedly asked about Carona's alleged extramarital affair with a local attorney, with tales of a love nest, a getaway trip to Las Vegas and a secret bank account.

Millionaire businessman Don Haidl testified Wednesday that former Orange County Sheriff Michael S. Carona intervened in the prosecution of Haidl's son in a high-profile sexual assault case "as a favor" but that the sheriff's efforts succeeded only in angering the district attorney. With Carona's blessing, Haidl testified, Assistant Sheriff George Jaramillo met with Orange County Dist. Atty.

Prosecutors wrapped up testimony from their key witness on Thursday by playing secretly recorded conversations that they said capture former Orange County Sheriff Michael S. Carona admitting he received cash payments from Newport Beach millionaire Don Haidl and plotted to cover it up. Haidl, on the witness stand for a fifth day, said Carona repeatedly tried to reassure him that the transactions would be untraceable.