Sheriff Will Cover Law Enforcement Expert Witness Fees in His Pro Bono Corruption Case

Former Orange County Sheriff Michael S. Carona, charged with selling access to his office for cash, favors and gifts, has retained Jones Day on a pro bono basis. An allegedly corrupt sheriff who is making about $200,000 a year in retirement makes for an unusual pro bono client but colleagues say Jones Day Los Angeles attorney Brian A. Sun took the case because he considers it an example of government overreach.. Carona will pay the cost of law enforcement expert witnesses, his local attorney, and investigators. LATimes.com also reports:

…Sun offered to handle it pro bono as long as Carona resigned. Carona would continue to pay all costs of the defense, such as investigators and expert witnesses. Carona also agreed to pay Jones Day’s legal fees up to the date of his resignation this month, and he continues to pay H. Dean Steward, a San Clemente attorney who has represented him for more than two years. “To suggest that he’s getting a free legal ride is wholly inaccurate,” Sun said. “Mike and his family will likely expend much of their net worth defending these charges.”