Don Haidl sentenced to community service

Former Orange County Assistant Sheriff Don Haidl will have to do a “heavy dose” of community service along with paying $40,000 in fines for lying on his 2002 taxes, but he will not serve jail time, a federal judge said this afternoon.

Federal Judge Andrew J. Guilford delayed Haidls’ sentencing Monday after telling the U.S. Attorney’s Office he wasn’t satisfied with Haidl just paying a fine and getting probation.

“There’s something to be said for white collar defendants understating the plights and ills of our society,” Guilford told Haidl’s attorney, Mark Byrne.

Byrne had suggested Haidl’s community service tie in his financial prowess, but the judge opted for something more “humbling.”

Haidl’s sentencing was delayed until March 15, giving the federal probation time to draw up different community service options for him.