Former adult film star may take stand

Deepa Bharath

The defense in a high-profile gang-rape case will ask the judge today

to admit testimony of a pornography expert attorneys say will

contradict a witness for the prosecution who suggested the defendants

drugged the girl.

Greg Haidl, son of Orange County Assistant Sheriff Don Haidl, Kyle

Nachreiner and Keith Spann are accused of raping an unconscious

16-year-old girl and sexually assaulting her in Don Haidl’s Corona

del Mar home.

The jury trial for the teenagers, which began on May 3, has come

to an abrupt standstill this week because defense attorney Pete

Morreale’s son met with a traffic accident on Friday. Testimony will

resume on June 7.

An attorney for Orange County will also ask the judge today to

quash a subpoena the defense served to Orange County Sheriff Mike

Carona.

Defense attorneys have not yet decided whether they want to call

the sheriff, who won national recognition for handling the

investigation into the death of Samantha Runnion, a 5-year-old

Stanton girl officials say was kidnapped from outside her home,

sexually assaulted and murdered.

Haidl’s attorney, Joseph Cavallo, said he believes Carona could

testify that the girl’s family had contacted him some time over the

last two years. He wouldn’t go into details about why the girl’s

family got in touch with Carona.

The defense today will also ask the judge to allow the testimony

of Sharon Mitchell, a porn star turned doctorate-holder in human

sexuality.

Mitchell’s testimony will give jurors a different perspective on

the 20-minute tape that captures the alleged incident, Haidl

co-counsel Pete Scalisi said.

Trinka Porrata, who testified for the prosecution, said what she

saw on the tape was consistent with GHB use. She said the girl was

limp and not reacting to objects, such as a Snapple bottle and a pool

cue, being inserted into her.

The defense says there is no evidence that the teenagers used GHB

or any other drug to make the girl unconscious, Scalisi said.

“Dr. Mitchell will testify that what she sees is consistent with a

porn film,” he said.

Defense attorneys are also expected to argue a motion for mistrial

on Thursday alleging that the prosecution did not divulge important

information regarding the girl’s injuries.

* DEEPA BHARATH covers public safety and courts. She may be

reached at (949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at deepa.bharath@latimes.com.