Don Haidl testified today that he used an alleged “get-out-of-jail free card” he said was given to him by ex-lawman Mike Carona to get a man out of Orange County Jail.
Haidl, a Newport Beach multimillionare businessman, was once Carona’s assistant sheriff. Haidl pleaded guilty to tax evasion and agreed to cooperate in Carona’s prosecution. He has been testifying in Carona’s public corruption trial for the last several days.
Today, he told jurors that in 2000, his friend, who he identified as a Joe Kowal, called and asked for his help to get a friend out of custody.
“He said (the man) was fearing for his life,” Haidl testified during cross-examination by Carona’s attorney, Jeff Rawitz.
Haidl said he talked to then-Assistant Sheriff Rocky Hewitt, who got the man released and placed into a work-furlough program. Haidl did not recall the defendant’s name. He also admitted never telling federal prosecutors about aiding in the man’s release. The only other time he used his get-out-of-jail card, Haidl said, was when he got his sister released to attend a funeral.
Haidl also testified that he filed a $10 million claim against Santa Ana Police Chief Paul Walters for Walter’s statement that Haidl wanted an assistant sheriff post in exchange for contributions. Walters unsuccessfully ran against Carona in 1998. Haidl initially considered backing Walters, but then chose Carona.
Haidl said Walter’s accusation — made public in an April 1999 Orange County Register article — was false. A claim is a precursor to a lawsuit. It wasn’t clear whether Haidl went ahead and sued Walters.
Rawitz pointed out Haidl wanted to sue Walters for the “exact same allegation” that Haidl is now making against Carona.
Haidl has alleged Carona gave him the assistant sheriff post, complete powers of the Sheriff’s Department including the purported “get-out-of-jail free card” and access to potential business deals in exchange for Haidl’s money.
Haidl reiterated to jurors that the quid pro quo happened with Carona — but not with Walters.
“It didn’t happen with Mr. Walters,” he said. “I talked to him for 45 minutes.”
About the case
- Complete coverage
- Live notes from the trial
- Frank Mickadeit’s column on Carona
- Interactive of Mike Carona’s career
Haidl’s sister was in Jail??? His Kid is a convicted Felon!!!
can you imagine what Thanksgiving is like at that house???
The Haidls are trailer park white trash.
Yep and Skippy was in bed, literally and figuratively with all of them.
Anyone who associated themselves with Corona are all crooks. Birds of a feather flock together. I hope someone spits on all of them when they are in public. They are all a bunch of turkeys!
Turkeys don’t get spit on. They get their necks wrung!
I would rather hang out with a Turkey than the Haidl’s or any of the crooks on trail!
Gee, it only took Paul Walters 45 minutes to figure out Haidl was selling his support and money for a badge, and told him to pound sand. Without Haidls money, Walters lost the election to a man who gladly gave this dirtbag what he wanted…..to dress up and play cop. The loser didn’t even know the proper way to wear the uniform. He always looked like a soup sandwich. Just like a scum bucket like him to wheel and deal and play the big shot, then turn snitch to save his own worthless hide.
Don’t let the OC BOS off the hook so easy! They are no better than any of these other crooks. They simply looked the other way and in fact at this very moment they are doing the same thing with the new Sheriff and the CCW permit issue.
I’ve been following this trial for some time now and none of the things the prosecution is presenting really surprises me anymore. Carona is as crooked as Lombard St. in San Francisco. (maybe even more after all is said and done)
What I really want to hear is what his defense is going to say to all of this. I’ve notice in the past that the bigger the case, the zannier the defense becomes. It’s pure entertainment from thier on. His should stop referring to himself as a “Christian” and uses the Bible to “guide” him in his everyday life. PLEASE! If you really did, you wouldn’t be in this position would you. YOU ASS.
Oh yeah…GREAT drama! In-bred white trash rattin’ on each other….absolutely no surprises here…..
If Don Haidl had a “get out of jail free” card, why didn’t he use it for his rapist son? Donnie sure did defend the boy to the hilt once charges were filed!
the haidls are good people the coronas are bad people