O.C. Sheriff Carona to Take 60-Day Leave of Absence

SANTA ANA, Nov. 6, 2007 (KABC) -- Orange County Sheriff Mike Carona is stepping down, but only temporarily, as he fights federal charges that he and others took hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes and kickbacks.

In a letter, Sheriff Carona told the Orange County Board of Supervisors he will take a 60-day leave of absence with pay.

Carona has pleaded not guilty to the corruption charges.

In a message to the department, Carona says it was not an easy decision to make, but he is taking a leave of absence starting on Friday. It will last two months. In his place will be Undersheriff Jo Ann Galisky, a 23 year veteran of the department.

The letter from Orange County's top cop came as the Orange County Board of Supervisors debated his fate.

In the letter Carona said "I will be taking a 60-day leave of absence in order to devote my full time and energy towards battling the untrue and baseless charges against my wife, Debbie, and me."

Carona says he will step aside November 9th. The announcement came a day after he entered a not guilty plea in federal court.

Carona faces a number of charges, including public corruption.

The 52 year old was indicted by a federal grand jury, accused of accepting tens of thousands of dollars and expensive gifts for political favors.

His wife and an attorney, Debra Hoffman, identified in the federal indictment as his mistress, also entered not guilty pleas.

Carona has always said he will not resign, because he has done nothing wrong. By stepping aside for 60 days, he will not be out of office.

"If he takes leave of absence for 90 days, the 91st day he's out of office," Dean Steward, Carona's attorney, said on Monday.

"I certainly think that something needs to be done with regards to what we're seeing of late in the county," John Moorlach, Orange County Supervisor, said.

Moorlach has been calling for Carona's resignation. He wanted a measure placed on the February ballot that would let voters decide whether to allow supervisors to place an elected official facing felony charges on paid administrative leave. By a 3-2 vote, it will not be on the February ballot.

Carona has faced increasing pressure to step aside.

"What I think is important that he did do is to step aside so that he's not making those decisions and somebody else is making the decisions for the sheriff's department," Tony Rackauckas, Orange County District Attorney, said.

"Did it shock us, or does it throw us into turmoil? No, it's an easy transition for us," Jo Ann Galisky, acting sheriff, said.

Carona has placed Undersheriff Jo Ann Galisky in charge while he's on leave. She says she already handles the day-to-day operations. She'll continue to do that during this difficult time.

"It's very difficult for us to watch him and his family go through this, at the same time that doesn't affect the operations of the department. It may affect our feelings about him, but we still continue to serve the public," Galisky said.

In an exclusive Eyewitness News poll conducted by SurveyUSA, we asked: Based on what you know, should Mike Carona remain as Orange County Sheriff or resign? Of those surveyed, 65 percent said he should resign, 23 percent said he should remain as sheriff, and 12 percent were not sure.

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