Greg Haidl- With a son like him, you need all the favors you can get.
Tuesday's session of the Mike Carona corruption trial continued with the testimony of an Orange County Sheriff's deputy who testified about a 2003 encounter with Greg Haidl, the son of star witness, Don Haidl, who had just finished testifying for 11 days.
As background, it should be remembered that Don Haidl was a successful businessman who was appointed Asst Sheriff by Carona-with no law enforcement experience. The defense has been arguing that there was no legitimate motive for Haidl to funnel illegal money and gifts to Carona since he (Haidl) was already a wealthy man. Haidl has testified that his motive was to be in a position of power where he could receive special favors and advantages.
Well, according to Tuesday's testimony, Haidl's son, Greg, received a special favor in 2003 when he was already out on bail charged for his involvement in a gang rape that he and two of his friends video-taped. (They were all convicted.)
According to the testimony of one deputy, John Roche, he encountered Greg Haidl and two other youths in a business parking lot in San Clemente, where they were skateboarding. During the encounter, Roche found a baggie of marijuana in a nearby car that Haidl was driving. Haidl denied ownership of the marijuana, and eventually, following a short period of time in which the deputy left the three together, one of the boys, a 16 year old, stated that the marijuana was his. (It was suspected that Haidl might have pressured the younger boy to take the blame.)
At any rate, the deputy called his supervisor since it was known who the younger Haidl was. Apparently, a couple more phone calls were made up the ladder, and the deputy was instructed to take Haidl home and not charge him. It was also ordered that the marijuana not be logged into evidence at the police station.
Lt Lloyd Downing testified that he was watch commander on that date, and was instructed by Asst Chief George Jaramillo not to log in the incident, lest the news media get ahold of it.
"I was only following orders", Downing testified.
Under cross-examination by Carona defense attorney, Jeff Rawitz, Downing was asked if he knew whether Carona had any involvement in the incident, to which he replied in the negative.
If that wasn't enough, about five days later, according to the testimony, Roche was instructed to write a report and log the evidence in. Roche testified that Lt William Hunt, a commander at the station, ordered the deputy to re-write his report in a way to absolve Haidl from any guilt.
Eventually, local news reporters started getting leaks from disgusted Sheriff's deputies about the incident, and it became a big news story in Orange County-already outraged about the pending criminal trial of Greg Haidl and two others for gang-rape and the fact that his father, Don Haidl, was an Asst Sheriff without any previous law enforcement experience.
As local LA reporter, Eric Leonard was reporting the testimony on KFI's John and Ken radio talk show, Hunt called into the show to vehemently state that he did nothing wrong, was only acting on the information known to him at the time and had received no orders from higher up. (Hunt, actually ran against Carona for Sheriff a couple of years back claiming that he would reform Carona's running of the department. Carona won and later, according to Hunt, retaliated against him by demoting him after the election.)
What was the importance of dragging up the Greg Haidl mess? It went to corroborate Don Haidl's stated motive of wanting to be in a position to get special favors. The defense, as stated, is trying to destroy Haidl's testimony as to his motives for having a secret financial relationship with Carona. In that incident in 2003, it appears that Don Haidl got a special favor from the Orange County Sheriff's Department.
After the above testimony, Carona's former secretary, Rlaine Vasquez, took the stand. She provided evidence regarding the obligation of people like Carona to provide information annually regarding their financial interests. This is done on a state form 700. According to Vasquez, she helped Carona file these reports in cases where he had been provided gifts or favors, such as a free limousine ride to Hollywood to view "The Lion King" at the Pantages Theatre. In cases like this, the Sheriff would send a letter to the donor that as Orange County Sheriff, he was not allowed to accept such favors free and would enclose reimbursement.
Why was that mundane testimony important? It went to show that Carona actually knew the law regarding favors, and, in several instances, actually followed the law. The prosecution is arguing that in cases where Carona's inner circle (Haidl, Jaramillo, etc) was providing the favors, he ignored it. According to Vasquez, she never saw any report of the alleged $1,000 monthly payments from Haidl to Carona.
The saga of "America's Sheriff" continues with a half-day of testimony on Wednesday before breaking for Thanksgiving.
1 comment:
That little shit! Now I'm worried who he will hurt after these fools that have released him. A woman is assulted every 2 2 1/2 minutes in the US. Believe me you can even be married to a man, he wants it, says it's the wifes obligation. If she for what EVER reason isn't in the mood. The husband may simply say, it's part of the "package deal".
Who the hell cares, if she doesn't feel like it, that should be the end of discussion. However, that's a manipultion & considered rape! This is abparents redponsibility to be sure there "boys" understand what "NO" means. Or obviously taking advantage of a situation! Shame on this son & father, for continuing the agressiveness of men & taking advantage of a young lady who was obviously not cohearent!!!! Prices should be paid! Teach him & his snobish, rich father a lesson. I'm a 3M brat & have 3 younger brothers. All 3 of them were spoiled with everything. But, would NEVER disrespect a female in this way! Shame on his parents!
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