Lawyer to leave Carona defense

A key member of the defense team for Michael S. Carona said Monday that he will withdraw from the political corruption case, a move the former Orange County sheriff said was intended to curb his mounting legal bills.

San Clemente attorney H. Dean Steward said he expected U.S. District Judge Andrew J. Guilford to approve his resignation because Carona will continue to be represented at no cost by the national law firm Jones Day.

Legal fees have been substantial for Carona, who earns a pension of about $200,000 per year. Although Jones Day has represented Carona without charge since January, the former sheriff must pay for an attorney representing his wife, Deborah, who was also charged in the case, and for expenses such as investigators, photocopying and expert witnesses.

Carona also paid for the work Jones Day performed before he resigned, fees that likely exceeded $100,000. Carona stepped down after the state attorney general’s office warned him that Jones Day’s donated legal services violated state and local limits on gifts that public officials can accept.

Steward, who has represented Carona since the FBI launched its corruption investigation in 2005, was the only attorney still being paid to represent Carona.

“I thank Dean for being a valued friend and counselor during this difficult period of my life,” Carona said in a statement released by Jones Day. “Unfortunately, the financial realities associated with my and my wife’s representation prevent me from being able to continue to retain him as part of our legal team.”

Steward declined to discuss the financial aspect of the case but said he, Carona and the other attorneys worked well together. “I am not leaving the defense team because of the facts of the case or Mike personally. Mike and I remain good friends. I also remain convinced that after a jury hears all the facts, Mike will be acquitted,” Steward said.

Jones Day attorneys have not disclosed why they agreed to represent Carona pro bono. But attorneys familiar with the work of lead attorney Brian A. Sun said he often accepts cases he believes in, even if the clients have limited ability to pay.

Carona, his wife and mistress, Debra V. Hoffman, were charged in October under a detailed indictment that accused him of selling the power of his office for a stream of cash and gifts. His trial is scheduled June 10, but Sun told Guilford last week the defense wouldn’t be ready by that date and will request a significant delay.

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stuart.pfeifer@latimes.com