Legal Commentary

Mixed Verdicts for 'America's Sheriff'

By TChris

Here's the headline:

"America's Sheriff" Found Guilty of Witness Tampering

The (former) sheriff in question is Orange County's Mike Carona. Larry King described him as "America's Sheriff" during the investigation of Samantha Runnion's disappearance.

The rest of the story is brighter for Carona than the headline suggests. [more ...]

Carona, 53, was acquitted of conspiracy, three counts of mail fraud and another witness tampering count.

Carona referred to the acquittals as "miracles" and as evidence of God's forgiveness. Perhaps, but the more earthbound explanation is that juries are extremely reluctant to convict law enforcement officers.

How forgiving the judge will be of Carona's witness tampering conviction remains to be seen. No sentencing date has been set.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on January 17, 2009 (boomark / email).