SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) – A federal judge says former Orange County Sheriff Michael Carona cannot remain free on bail while he appeals a conviction on a felony count of witness tampering.

U.S. District Judge Andrew J. Guilford ruled Friday after a hearing where Carona’s attorneys fought to keep him out of prison.

Carona was sentenced to 5½ years of prison last month and must report to prison on July 24.

Carona once led the nation’s fifth-largest sheriff’s department. He was originally charged with six counts, including conspiracy, mail fraud and witness tampering, in a sweeping public corruption case.

A jury acquitted him of all but one count.