Don Haidl, testifying in the public corruption trial of Mike Carona, was cross-examined today about his secretly recorded exchange in which he talks about former assistant sheriff George Jaramillo breaking down after he was interviewed by investigators.
Jaramillo, who was fired by Carona in 2004, talked to federal agents that same year, according to trial testimony. Haidl, who is being cross-examined by the lawyer for Carona’s former mistress Debra Hoffman, testified today that Jaramillo’s conversation with the government caused him concern.
Deputy Public Defender Sylvia Torres-Guillen, also played an excerpt of Haidl’s recording of a talk with Carona from last summer, in which the men discuss Jaramillo’s conversation.
“He couldn’t even meet me, he was so rattled,” Haidl says on the tape.
” When someone is sitting in front of government, it’s a very scary proposition correct?” Torres-Guillen asked in court.
“I guess it depends on the circumstances and who they are,” Haidl repled.
“What I mean is that it could make a grown man cry, right?” Torres-Guillen asked.
“Maybe some grown men,” Haidl replied.
Both men have pleaded guilty to their part in this alleged conspiracy, and hope for lighter sentences by being government witnesses against Carona.
“You know people who cooperate (with the government) are often called a snitch correct?” the lawyer asked.
” I’ve heard that, yes ma’am,” Haidl replied.
“Or a rat?” Torres-Guillen asked.
Haidl, again, agreed.
“Both of you would share the title of snitch, correct?” Torres-Guillen later asked.
“You’re the first person to say that ma’am,” he answered.
About the case
- Complete coverage
- Live notes from the trial
- Frank Mickadeit’s column on Carona
- Interactive of Mike Carona’s career
It sure made Haidl cry that’s why he’s snitching and I despise snitches.
It doesn’t matter how Torres-Guillen tries to twist things or how she has the liberty to call names she wouldn’t ordinarily say, Carona couldn’t be more guilty of the tyhings he has been charged with. Yep Haidl & the Jaramillo are as guilty as sin also. It was all an conspiricy, when Carona decided to run for sheriff, remember?
HAIDL IS A SPINELESS SNITCH!! Too bad be can’t go to jail too. Giving money to public officials so he can feel important! OMG the whole group of them makes me sick! It is like a car accident.. I can’t look away!!!!!!!!
This is a most unsavory group of characters. They’re all dirty.
You fawkers calling Haidl a snitch are idiots, would you rather have Corona get off easy? Hey, I hate rats too, and snitches, but sometimes it is necessary to be dirty like that. I bet if any of you ill commented users were in the same position you would do the same.
Who cares about the snitches, I’m glad they broke down and snitched…The real crime was committed by Corona who betrayed the public trust and tarnished the OC Sheriff Dept. These people due to their position need to be held to a higher degree of standards when it comes to the law, one dirty cop is worse than a 100 criminals. Corona should face the death sentence for his crimes against the public good and the public interest, he should be used as an example that no one, not even the head of the Sheriffs department is above the law. Corruption must not be tolerated in any form.
Wow my previous post looks like I need to return to elementary school….sorry about that mess, however I’m sure everyone will get the point.
There is no honor among theives, why should we expect anything more now. This whole mess is so slimy that after I read these updates I feel the need to go scrub down in a hot shower….yuck!
They’re also called whistleblowers… “snitches” aren’t necessarily liars, either their conscience or their selfishness kicks in to blow the whistle on other’s illegal activity even though they may have also been involved in it. Carona is a bigger piece of slime, he didn’t live up to the trust the OC people had in him. It’s amazing that his wife still stands by him. What do we call her?
I don’t get why the defense attorney is trying to state and obvious fact: Haidl is a snitch. It’s like arguing in court that the the sky is blue.
DUH counselor! Next question please.
Snitch or not, it doesn’t change the fact that Carona is a SCUM.
It reminds me of the scene from GoodFellas where the lawyer calls the state’s witness Henry a rat or a snitch. I thought that was only a New York thing where people are suppose to all be from a “neighborhood” and not reveal the block’s secrets. They call witnesses in Orange County rats and snitchs on the stand? Are we suppose to care if somebody turns in a criminal? Care here? In sunny transit S. California?
Hoffman’s attorney classifies Haidl as a rat for cooperating with the authorities. Does she classify Hoffman as a slut for romancing the little sheriff?
I don’t quite understand the problem. Nobody like a snitch. Sure. We agree on that. But in most cases it takes a crook to catch a crook. If not for Haidl and Jaramillo, Carona would still be your Sheriff.
Is that what you want?
There are slang terms for attorneys too. Do we really want to go down that road?
Carona’s wife is just a “shell of a person”.
She is probably like so many other “political wives”, they know what thier lil hubbies are up to and have sort of an unspoken agerement with them, do whatever it is you want so I can live like a queen BUT don’t get caught and embarrass me…Hey Mikey, didn’t you get the memo
Snitch and Rat are what crooks call those who tell on their crimes. Whistleblower is what the government call those to tell the truth on criminals. I dont care what you call Haidl, as long as the truth gets out and Corona gets what he thought would never befall him! Jaramillo (both of them) will get theirs as will Haidl. Unfortunately all of them can afford to recover financially from their misdeeds.
The people of Orange County got what they wanted. These guys. Happily voting Corona in because he had a better campaign. Who could have forseen this disaster? Oh, just the line staff of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. The men and women who actually do the job would not endorse this man. Now we are going to pay for his garbage for years to come. Corona left the department a mess, because he was too busy doing push ups before his press confrences and because he was never a law enforcement official. He was a security guard in a court room. He has no idea what happens on the streets, in a jail or in an investigation. Let’s hope Sandra can clean this up, because the citizens of OC are paying dearly for their mistake.
OOOH DOES THE LITTLE HOT SAUCE ATTORNEY THINK THAT CALLING HAIDL A SNITCH AND A RAT CHANGES THE FACT THAT the good christian married CARONA DID HER CLIENT ON THE LOVENEST DESK AND NEGOTIATED THE 110k LOAN FOR HER OFFICE TO TRY AND STAY OPEN TO RUN HIS CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS FOR ALL FUTURE FUNDS TO KEEP HIM IN OFFICE. WHAT AN EMBARRASSMENT OF AN ATTORNEY HOFFMAN HAS! TRAMPS ALL OF THEM!
as the old saying goes
“snitches get stitches”
Like it pay to play!!!
Corona is still better than the liberal who replaced him.
Wow Heather, I can’t belive you would defend Caona & cronies & all the wrongdoing they did to say he is better than Hutchins. This sheriff’s dept needs to be shaped up once again & all things affiliated with it, even the CCW permits Carona handed out like candy. How old are you, do you think clearly on even or odd days? Maybe they will let you in the courtroom to see Carona go down the tubes. They really do need to make special allowances for you.
to Christian Lara,
Only weak people snitch .. So I guess that tell me where you stand.
Pay to Play - like your post the best. Summed it up quickly. As to Debbie Corona - we’ll find out what she’s made up when this is over as in how fast she files for divorce. She could not have imagined how deep this river of sh** was - the exhaustion and despair is so apparent in her expressions. Sure she was enjoying the benefits of the power of Mike’s office and I’m NOT saying she is an “innocent” at all, but I don’t think she had any real idea of the depth. Torres-Guillen is way out of line - should be representing the mafia. Wall, maybe she IS? She’s in the same gutter as Mike and D. Hoffman. Where did they dig her up?
WOW Rick! Guess we know how deep in the mud YOU are! That is a very cowardly opinion.
Carona’s wife is an idiot, she was brainwashed by her husband. I hope they both go straight to jail and Carona can meet up with Bubba.
The Lincoln Club should be on trial too. He was their frontman and they spinelessly supported him until the bitter end.
Not Even:
In my opinion Debbie knew practically everything. Wait until she gets her day in court. Let’s see how it plays out. A similar analogy might be the bimbo blonde with diamonds and pearls who gets caught with her supplier beau delivering a kilo of ccke to a customer. When the bust goes down she starts crying crocodile tears and swearing on a bible that she had no clue what was in the bag. Now I understand that some jurors are so stupid that they need a signed confession from the bad guy to find him guilty. But I hope that enough have the smarts to connect the dots by at least the conclusion of the 2nd trial. We really need to go to expert jury panels. Common folks just aren’t sophisticated enough to figure out how the game is played.
Mr. Haidl, you did what any parent would have done for their son…don’t let these people get to you. As for Corona he owed you for what you did for him and I wish the best for you and your family when this is all said and done with. Corona MAN up and admit that you are as trash as that hooker that you slept with, as for your wife leave this old bastard, he has already proved to you that you are worthless and has cheated on you and I’m sure on mare than one occasion.
Haidl and Jaramillo are RATS! I’m not saying that Corona should get off, not at all. He was the ring leader and they all got off from the power and the cash. Here is the thing though. They were in it together and they should have all gone down together. Haidl and Jaramillo, guilty as they know they are, ratted to save themselves. No one likes rats and ‘m sure they will get theirs in due time. I’m sure Corona will lie, cheat, and steal his way through this trial in an attempt to get himself off. In the end, Mikey will get his too. But at the very least, he no rat.
we all believe thier both the crust that builds up on all butt holes ………… and deserve a few STD’s for their hypocracies …..
Snitches today, bitches once they all get to prison!
As a retired DEA agent, I went through this scenario with co-conspirators testifying countless times. Is Haidl a rat? Of course. So is Jaramillo and so is Cavallo. But they are the ones Carona picked out to associate with, something the prosecutor will remind the jurors during closing argument.
The testimony of these three rats or snitches or whatever you want to call them will only be accepted by the jurors if the govt provides corroborating evidence to support their testimony. Those tapes are a big part of that. It is Carona’s own words that he has to be worried about.
I will be happy when Carona burns in jail. I will enjoy watching him walk a bit funny after he gets in there.
“Absolute Power corrupts, absolutely…”
Carona ratted out Jaramillo to the State attorney’s office to start this ball rolling. He also ratted out his other friend for life, Joe Cavallo. He takes credit for both things on the tapes. Haidl, Jaramillo, Cavallo, and Carona are all criminals, but what stands out to me is that Carona was the top law enforcement official during this criminal enterprise.
How Ironic. Sylvia Torres-Guillen calling Haidle names just like Joe Cavalo did the rape victim while defending Greg Haidle.
How much time do y’all think Carona will serve if he is found guilty on all charges? What if he is found guilty on some of the charges? What do you think Carona’s defense will be? Do his lawyers have something up their sleeves? Do I ask too many questions?
What do you think Mike? We have voiced our opinions here & you can voice yours too. Unfortunately the judge & jury won’t base their decisions on these post…I wish they could. There is no defense for the “little sheriff being so arrogant! So far his lawyers haven’t proved anything, who knows about thier sleeves? Yes, too many questions, educate yourself about this & there is plenty throughout the OCR to do that. Most of us only have the articles from the OCR to form our opinions.
RE:
occanusee Says:
November 21st, 2008 at 4:02 pm
The Lincoln Club should be on trial too. He was their frontman and they spinelessly supported him until the bitter end.
Occanusee,
I am interested in the “details” of why you think the OC Lincoln Club is responsible for Mr. Carona’s alleged actions. RSVP. Thanks.
Jim Gilchrist, President, the Minuteman Project, Inc.
Email me at century21minuteman@sbcglobal.net.
I can answer that. Beacuse Dale Dykema and all his cronies in the Lincoln Club bankrolled Carona in 1998 then stood by and did nothing in 2006 when it was obvious to anyone paying the least bit of attention that Carona was corrupt. How ironic to watch Lincoln Club president Rich Wanger’s recent whining about the state GOP leadership. He ought to be more concerend about the laughing stock they’ve created here in OC. You get what you pay for!
By the way Gilchrist, what’s with coming to Carona’s aid? Don’t you have enough legal problems of your own to worry about? Birds of a feather they say….