Carona’s trial is delayed 2 months

Defense and prosecution attorneys have agreed to postpone the public corruption trial of former Orange County Sheriff Michael S. Carona until Aug. 26, giving his lawyers two additional months to prepare.

Carona, 52, had originally been scheduled to stand trial June 10, but his attorneys said they needed additional time to review thousands of pages of financial records and reports that are at the center of the government’s case against him. The U.S. attorney’s office had originally opposed the delay, saying Carona has had ample time to prepare for the trial.

A federal grand jury indicted Carona in October on charges that he sold the power of his office in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash and gifts, and tried to encourage a former associate to testify falsely before a grand jury. Carona’s wife, Deborah, and former mistress, Debra V. Hoffman, are also charged in the case. Carona resigned in January and the county is searching for a replacement to fill out the remainder of his term.

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-- Stuart Pfeifer