Don Haidl, the former assistant sheriff under ex-sheriff Mike Carona, told jurors today that secret recordings between Carona and himself were about getting their stories straight if questioned by federal authorities about illegal cash and gifts.
“He’s assuring me that no one will be able to find the money I gave him,” Haidl told jurors.
Haidl was on the stand today, testifying for the prosecution in Carona’s public corruption trial. He had admitted to giving Carona tens of thousands of dollars of illegal campaign contributions and cash in exchange for access to the Sheriff’s Department.
Prosecutor Brett Sagel played portions of the tapes. The panel of 11 men and one woman followed along with the tape by reading transcripts.
“We can’t take the Fifth,” Haidl said in one exchange.
“We wouldn’t want to anyway,” Carona replied.
In another recording, Carona said: “I know about me, that part I know about, I also know about you … and I can tell you right now, there ain’t an (expletive) worry in the world.”
“He’s saying if we both get the same story, and if we both lie, we won’t get caught,” Haidl told jurors.
Sagel also asked Haidl questions about specific exchanges.
“In the second page of transcript, you stated, ‘Nothing I did with money is ever traceable, nothing i did with money is ever traceable … it’s in a safe.’ What were you referring to there?” the lawyer said.
“The cash I gave to Mike Carona,” Haidl replied.
“In another portion, Don Haidl says, ‘Well that’s fine, but we know it’s out there.’ Mike Carona responds, ‘Right.’ What were you referring to?” Sagel asked.
“The fact the feds knew I had been paying George and Mike Carona,” he testified.
Haidl told jurors that Peggy Haidl and Deborah Carona were the “communication link” between him and Carona. The men mention Carona’s wife, Deborah Carona, and Haidl’s sister, Peggy, in the recordings.
“If we ever get in a position … we can’t talk to each other,” Haidl said on the recording.
“Right,” Carona replied.
“There are some stuff that Peggy (Haidl) and Debbie (Carona) can’t talk about either you know,” Haidl said.
During another excerpt, Carona says “the gifts I got … was the only flexible money I ever got in my life ever.”
Sagel asked what Carona was referring to, when he said “money.”
“Cash I gave Mike Carona,” Haidl repled. He added that “flexible” means that the money was untraceable.
“How would you term the cash you were giving Mr. Carona?” Sagel asked.
The cash, Haidl explained, were “bribes so Carona wouldn’t take (other) bribes.”
Read my earlier blog entry about Carona using a racial epithet during one exchange here.
About the case
- Complete coverage
- Live notes from the trial
- Frank Mickadeit’s column on Carona
- Interactive of Mike Carona’s career
Why did it take the feds to get rid of this slug?
Where in the heck was our county leaders?
It was all happening right under their noses.
If not for the feds the slug would still be in charge of OCSD!
What a knee slapper that is, eh?
As I read the ongoing trial of Mike Carona I hear about an egotistical self serving, pig who flaunts the rules at every opportunity. That said, I’m not so sure I see a grand plan to become rich. Abuse of trust? Absolutely. Violation of reporting laws? Absolutely. But rich? Puhleeessse!!!! These clowns were all about status and perceived self importance.
Methinks the Feds may have overplayed their hand a bit. Nonetheless, the crimes articulated in the trial are deserving of some convictions.
These idiots are simply trailer trash, so their interpretation of rich may not rise to the level that we normal folks might recognize. Nonetheless, what we see here is plain n simple. Greed, arrogance, violations of the public trust, complete lack of morals and most important of all…..stupidity.
They are all their own worst enemies and when all is said n done, they will all be convicted felons who will drift off and disappear to live out their miserable lives…….
Regardless of ones interpetation of RICH……. Private planes to vegas free 6K in poker chips, hookers, private booths, New York Parties /Hotels with the fricken mayor of New York Custom Suits paid for by campaign contributors ( Haidl) Best sporting event tickets
These are not your typical City government perks! He thought he was a Rock Star ( oops I mean a p%^%^ star!)
I couldn’t agree with you more “renee”. These punks were completely outta control and truly believed that they were above the law and would never be caught….”Team Forever”.
You hit it right. I keep wondering where the money laundering, get-rich quick scheme is. Even at the feds most outlandish claim of $750k in cash and gifts, this doesn’t make sense. Spread it out over 5 people and 8 years and no one is stupid enough to believe anyone is getting rich on 20k a year.
Power, OTOH, that’s another story……..
Still, with this kind of evidence, the feds will be lucky to get him 18 months at Camp Lompoc.
I and my family campaigned actively for Chief Walters as Sheriff candidate in 1998, and against Carona in 2002 and 2006. So did the majority of employees, he never fooled us, just a few ladder-climbers with little or no conscience clung to him with lips pursed.
“When a person is in a high position of power, especially a man, there is a sense of entitlement and a sense of being…above the law because of the importance of what they do - because of the importance of who they are.” Jaramillo, Haidl, Carona!
Don’s still bitter they didn’t help keep his brat out of jail. so he turns on his pals. The kid brought the whole gang down.
Wonder when Gray Davis gets a summons…..
You’re absolutely right “Joe”. The wheels began to fall off of “Team Forever’s” cart once Haidl’s kid was arrested for the gang rape in daddy’s house and Skippy wouldn’t go to T-Rack and get the kid tried as a juvenile. So daddy got pissed off, that punk Jaramillo tried to interfere with Newport Bch PD’s investigation and things started to unravel. It went quickly downhill from there.
And they were all too stupid to see that this is where it would end up. Fools, they’re all greedy fools…..
Does not change the fact that ALL of them are criminals…… Even the women! They are definately not the poor victims they are trying to convey while they sit so ever politely in the courtroom. EWWWWWW… A wicked web of thieves and immoral liars. SEND THEM ALL TO JAIL ALREADY!