CALIFORNIA BRIEFING / SANTA ANA

Former Orange County Sheriff Michael S. Carona’s attorneys say he deserves no more than probation for leaning on an assistant sheriff to lie to a grand jury that was investigating corruption allegations in the law enforcement agency.

Carona maintains that former Assistant Sheriff Don Haidl guided the secretly recorded conversation, which led to a felony witness tampering conviction.

Defense attorney Jeffrey Rawitz also argued in a legal brief filed Tuesday that if a stiffer sentence is imposed, it should be some type of home or community confinement rather than time in a federal prison, partly because of the risk Carona may face because of his career in law enforcement.

Rawitz contends the government’s request for nine years in prison is over-reaching and ignores that the federal court jury acquitted Carona of five other charges and rejected the theory that the former lawman conspired to misuse the powers of his office to enrich himself and his inner circle with cash and gifts worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Citing letters from law enforcement officials and other members of the community, Rawitz asked U.S. District Judge Andrew Guilford to consider Carona’s public service record, especially his work helping children and fighting gangs.

The letters were filed under seal, but Rawitz quotes from several of them, including one from Erin Runnion, the mother of 5-year-old Samantha Runnion. The capture of the Stanton girl’s killer propelled Carona to national prominence.

Carona is set to be sentenced Monday. Probation officers have recommended that he serve 6 1/2 years in prison.

Last week, Carona’s defense team asked Guilford to allow him to remain free while they appeal the lone conviction.

-- Christine Hanley