Flagstaff
First-Degree Murder and Sexual Abuse of a Corpse
John George Brewer and Rita Kathleen Brier went out on their first date on October 25, 1986. Things went well, and, in the Spring of 1987, they moved into his mother's house in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. In September of that year, Kathleen became pregnant, and they moved to Flagstaff, Arizona. Brewer became so dependent on Kathleen that, on November 11, 1987, she suggested that they break up for his own good.
Brewer describes what happened next;She said she loved me and because she loved me she was leaving, to show me how I could live by myself if I had to. Well, that was it. I started screaming and yelling, you know, 'Why think about if you were dead? I'll kill you.' I proceeded to beat her, strangle her, pound her, throw her, bash her head against the wall, tried to break her arm so she couldn't claw my eyes out.
Brewer bludgeoned Kathleen with his fists, bit her, slammed her arms against the sharp corners of furniture, and tried to gouge her eyes out with his thumbs. Finally, he strangled her with a gray necktie. She was 22 weeks pregnant at the time. Then he had sexual intercourse with her dead body, got dressed, walked to a nearby bowling alley, and called police.
Brewer asked for the death sentence because he said he deserved to die. He said that "I committed a horrible crime, and I believe that for what I did, my life is forfeit. I don't like what's going to happen to me. I don't want it. I get chills in the middle of the night thinking about it. I'm not looking forward to it. But I don't think I have a right to do otherwise. I committed this murder, and I should pay for that."
His wish was granted. Brewer pled guilty to first-degree murder, and a jury sentenced him to death in August 1988.
On March 3, 1993, he was executed.
References: Joe Salkowski. "`I Committed This Murder, and I Should Pay:' John George Brewer Set to Die Wednesday." The Arizona Daily Star, February 28, 1993, page 1A.
Phoenix
Manslaughter, Fatal Botched Abortion, Negligent Homicide, Fraud, Gross Negligence and Gross Malpractice
In April 1998, abortionist John Biskind of the A-Z Women's Center in Phoenix punctured the uterus of 33-year-old LouAnne Herron in the course of an abortion on her 26-week-old preborn child. A registered nurse then in his employ maintains that Biskind knew of the baby's age from two prior ultrasound scans, but instructed a medical assistant to take another ultrasound from a different angle to make the baby appear younger (abortions are not permitted in Arizona after 26 weeks, absent documented risk to the mother's life or health). Although Herron was still bleeding profusely, Biskind left the clinic for the day. When abortion clinic employees finally called 9-1-1 they told the ambulance to go to the back door with the sirens off. Paramedics administered CPR too late to save Herron from bleeding to death from a uterine puncture.
Herron, who lay bleeding on a gurney in Biskind's office for three hours before paramedics were called, could have been saved if she had been taken almost immediately into surgery, where doctors could have stopped the hemorrhaging, said Dr. John Gallagher, an emergency room doctor at St. Luke's Medical Center. Gallagher testified that, judging from Herron's physical condition, she had been dead for 10 to 20 minutes when paramedics arrived at 4:26 p.m. That was more than three hours after medical assistants noticed a pool of blood collecting under her body in the recovery room of the A-Z Women's Center abortion mill. As her last hours ticked away in the recovery room, Herron at times became combative, anxious and frightened, and felt her legs go numb, all clear signs of severe blood loss, Gallagher said. Biskind was in the recovery room at one point, trying to calm Herron as she begged to know what was happening to her, according to earlier testimony. He assured her that she would be "just fine."
During the recorded 9-1-1 call at 4:17 p.m., an abortion mill worker asked "Could we have you come to the side doors, right on 10th Street, and try not to use no sirens." The 9-1-1 dispatcher asked what the emergency was.
Worker: "She had a termination done."
Dispatcher: "Is she breathing OK?"
Worker: "No, she's not."
Dispatcher: "OK, do you have oxygen on her?"
Worker: "No, we don't."
Dispatcher: "Do you have oxygen available?"
Worker: "Hmm. Can we get it on? I don't know if we have any in there."
Captain Arnie Barajas, a paramedic with the Phoenix Fire Department, said Herron was lying on a blood-soaked gurney, cold, pale and "probably had been dead awhile" when he walked in.
Several clinic employees said that abortion mill administrator Carol Stuart-Schadoff assembled the staff the next day and ordered them not to talk about Herron's death to anyone. She especially didn't want local pro-lifers to find out about the killing. In fact, one clinic staff member told the ABC television program 20/20 that Stuart-Schadoff instructed the clinic staff to deny Herron's death and say it was "just a lie that the protesters made up." Amazingly, Stuart-Schadoff told one worker that they had done their very best to save Herron, but that "LouAnne had died because it was God's intention."
Soon after Herron's death, Biskind surrendered his licenses to practice medicine in Arizona and in his home state of Ohio. At least three clinic employees resigned soon after. Owner Moishe Hachamovitch, another abortionist, eventually closed A-Z and two other Phoenix-area clinics.
During a subsequent investigation, the Arizona Republic reported that Biskind had had a long history of botched abortions and negligence before 1998;
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- In 1989, Biskind aborted a woman who left his abortion mill bleeding heavily, with extremely low blood pressure, leg cramps and sweating. Biskind's clinic workers paged him repeatedly, but with no success. She was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors saved her life by performing an emergency hysterectomy. When doctors finally reached Biskind, he claimed that he was not on call.
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- In 1990, the Arizona Board of Medical Examiners (BOMEX) had censured the abortionist for trying to abort a full-term preborn baby he said he thought was just 10 weeks old.
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- In 1991, BOMEX added another letter of concern to the abortionists's official file for signing blank and undated prescription forms.
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- In January 1996, BOMEX censured the abortionist yet again for gross negligence in connection with the February 1995 death of a 26-year-old Flagstaff woman, Lisa Bardsley. He discharged her just an hour after her abortion. During her drive home, she became very ill and was eventually rushed to a hospital, but it was too late to save her life. Biskind had pulled part of her intestine through a gaping three-inch tear in her uterus, and she died of massive blood loss. BOMEX censured the abortionist for gross negligence.
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- In March 1998, another abortion patient was bleeding profusely in the A-Z clinic's recovery room from a botched abortion. Biskind scraped her uterus to determine the bleeding's cause — without anesthesia. Though the bleeding continued, Biskind told her that she would be just fine. He then left the abortion mill and a nurse called 911.
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- On June 30, 1998, the abortionist attempted to commit a partial-birth abortion on a preborn baby whose age he estimated at 23.6 weeks, but was instead nearly full term, weighing a hefty 6 pounds, 2 ounces. He delivered her intact, but not before he had fractured her skull and deeply lacerated her face in two places. She was adopted.
Maricopa County Superior Court records show seven lawsuits that name Biskind, the A-Z clinic, or Dr. Moshe Hachamovitch, the clinic's owner; Arizona medical board records contain seven complaints against Hachamovitch and three letters of concern for problems such as improper medical record-keeping and failure to file fetal death certificates, required if the child is 24 weeks' gestation or older; and the A-Z clinic was fined for 12 health hazards (one "serious") in 1996 by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Dr. Hachamovitch owns another abortion clinic in Phoenix and one in Tempe, as well as several in New York and Texas. At least two lawsuits and complaints against him have arisen from the deaths of patients in his clinics in New York and Texas.
Biskind and his administrator, Carol Stuart-Schadoff, were finally arrested on January 12th, 1999 and both were charged with manslaughter in the death of LouAnne Herron. Problems with Hachamovitch's clinics have been well documented over the years. Former colleagues and court documents said some of those troubles may have stemmed from his intense drive to make money. He undercut competitors; drew women from neighboring states with ads and toll-free phone numbers; focused on costly, late second-trimester abortions; and had each clinic's financial reports faxed daily to New York. "`Hach' was so interested in making money. That's the thing you have to understand," said a doctor who worked for Hachamovitch in Texas and spoke on the condition of anonymity. "`Hach' ... always talked about how fertile economically this business was. He got into the business very, very early, and became sort of an entrepreneur. He spread out all over the country. He was making big, big bucks."
On February 20, 2001, a jury found Biskind guilty of manslaughter and Carol Stuart-Schadoff guilty of negligent homicide in the Herron case. Jurors disapproved of Biskind's decision to leave the clinic as his patient lay dying. "We all agreed from the start of deliberations that he was guilty," said jury foreman Russell Craig, a 56-year-old retired government worker. Jurors also were struck by Stuart-Schadoff's disregard for a sonogram showing the fetus was more than 24 weeks old and her failure to schedule a nurse during Herron's abortion. Biskind had no comment.
His lawyer, Lawrence Kazan, said the jury made a crime out of a medical mistake, and he wondered what implications that would have. He said "We're sorry the jury didn't see it our way. We think at worst this was a case of medical malpractice." Stuart-Schadoff's attorney, Cameron Morgan, said he wants a new trial, and said "Obviously we disagree with the verdict."
On May 4, 2001, Biskind was finally sentenced to five years in prison. Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Michael Wilkinson also ordered Biskind to pay $12,841.40 in restitution.
On the same day, Carol Stuart-Schadoff was sentenced to four years probation and the same amount of restitution. Stuart- Schadoff also must complete 500 hours of community service and is barred from working again in the medical field, said Superior Court spokeswoman Karen Arra.
In October 2003, abortionist Biskind was denied a reduction in his prison term by the Board of Executive Clemency. Biskind has written in his clemency request that he has found a "new spiritual conviction."
When he gets out of prison, we shall see if this "new spiritual conviction" is strong enough to allow him to resist the big bucks the abortion industry has always offered him.
References: "More Atrocities in Arizona Abortionist's Past." LifeSite Daily News at http://www.lifesite.net, July 20, 1998; "Men Behaving Really Badly." Life Insight [publication of the Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)]. October 1998 [Volume 9, Number 8]; Susan E. Wills. "Back to the Alley Clinical Psychosis." National Review, November 13, 1998; "Report Details Medical Irresponsibility in Arizona Woman's Abortion-Related Death." The Arizona Republic, December 15, 1998; Steven Ertelt's Pro-Life Infonet at http://www.prolifeinfo.org/infonet.html, January 12, 1999; "State Reports: Arizona: Abortion Doctor, Nurse Arrested Following Patient's Death." Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, January 13, 1999; Pro-Life Infonet, January 15, 1999; Susie Steckner and Jodie Snyder. "History of Trouble at Clinics: Abortion Centers Accumulate Record of 6 Deaths, 28 Suits." The Arizona Republic, January 17, 1999; Pro-Life Infonet, January 23 and 25, 1999; "Abortionist and Mill Administrator Both Face Manslaughter Charge." The Wanderer, January 28, 1999, pages 1 and 6; "Abortion Practitioner Had Bad History Before Abortion Death." Arizona Republic, May 13, 2000; Pro-Life Infonet, May 13, 2000; "Court Says Some Evidence Can't be Used in Arizona Botched Abortion Case." Arizona Daily Star, January 13, 2001; "Court Says Some Evidence Can't be Used in Arizona Botched Abortion Case." "Jury Selection Begins in Abortion Practitioner's Botched Abortion Trial." Arizona Republic, January 18, 2001; Pro-Life Infonet, January 19, 2001; "Arizona Botched Abortion Trial Begins." Arizona Republic, January 22, 2001; "Biskind's Botched Abortion Trial Begins." Arizona Republic, January 23, 2001; "Witness Says Biskind's Botched Abortion Was "Too Late" in Pregnancy." Arizona Republic, January 26, 2001; Pro-Life Infonet, January 27, 2001; "Woman Begged For Help Before Her Abortion Killed Her." Arizona Republic, January 30, 2001; Pro-Life Infonet, January 31, 2001; "Biskind Trial: Administrator Knew No Nurse Was Available." Arizona Republic, February 1, 2001; "Biskind Trial: ER Doc Says Woman Died Needlessly From Botched Abortion." Arizona Republic, February 6, 2001; "Biskind's Abortion Death Account Differs With Records." Arizona Republic, February 7, 2001; Teresa Wagner. "Biskind Trial Shows Abortion Endangers Women." Miami Herald, February 7, 2001; Pro-Life Infonet, February 7 and 9, 2001; "Biskind Abortion Death Trial Full of Grim Details." The Arizona Republic, February 12, 2001; Carol Sowers. "Abortion Doc Accused of Manslaughter Testifies for First Time, Defends Care." Arizona Republic, February 13, 2001; "Biskind Testifies in Abortion Death Trial." Arizona Republic. February 13, 2001; Pro-Life Infonet, February 13 and 14, 2001; Carol Sowers. "Courtroom Packed During Biskind Trial." The Arizona Republic, February 15, 2001; Celeste McGovern. "Lou Anne Herron and the Modern-Day Backstreet Butcher." Report Magazine [Canada], February 19, 2001; Carol Sowers. "Doctor, Clinic Administrator Guilty in Abortion Death, Jury Finds." The Arizona Republic, February 20, 2001; "Arizona Abortionist Convicted of Manslaughter." LifeSite Daily News, February 20, 2001; Jacques Billeaud. "Arizona Abortion Doctor Convicted of Manslaughter." Associated Press, February 20, 2001; "Abortion Practitioner Convicted of Manslaughter in Abortion Death." Associated Press, February 20, 2001; "Abortion Practitioner Convicted of Manslaughter in Abortion Death." Pro-Life Infonet, February 21, 2001; Carol Sowers. "Sentencing of Convicted Abortion Doctor Postponed." The Arizona Republic, March 20, 2001; "Biskind Abortion-Manslaughter Sentence Postponed." Pro-Life Infonet, March 21, 2001; Mark Henle. "Abortion Doctor Sentenced to 5 Years in Death of Patient." The Arizona Republic, May 4, 2001; "Abortion Practitioner Convicted of Manslauter in Legal Abortion Death." Arizona Republic, May 5, 2001; Pro-Life Infonet, May 5, 2001; "Arizona Abortionist Sentenced to Five Years in Botched Abortion." LifeSite Daily News, May 7, 2001; "State High Court Turns Away Appeal by Abortion Doctor." Arizona Republic, September 12, 2003; "News Update." The Arizona Republic, October 24, 2003; Celeste McGovern. "She Didn't Have to Die." Citizen Magazine [Focus on the Family]. Downloaded from the Web site of Focus on the Family at http://family.org/cforum/citizenmag/coverstory/a0016059.cfm on February 18, 2004; "Arizona Physician Receives Five-Year Prison Sentence for Unsuccessful Abortion." Daily Reproductive Health Report at Kaisernetwork.org. Downloaded from http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=4444 on July 20, 2004.
Sexual Abuse (2 incidents), Gross Malpractice, Malpractice (3 incidents), Practicing Medicine Without a License, and Prescribing Drugs Without a License
Abortionist P. Scott Ricke had sex with a patient after he aborted her and grossly botched a third-trimester abortion he committed on another woman.
The Assistant Arizona Attorney General said that Ricke aborted a 28-week, 2.4 pound preborn child and jeopardized the mother's health by failing to minimize risks at his Women's Surgical Clinic abortion mill. The patient claimed that the fetal head became lodged during her abortion February 7, 1987, that she was screaming in pain, that Ricke responded to her request for painkillers by telling her that "he didn't have any," that Ricke refused her request to be taken to a hospital, that he told her no hospital would take her because her abortion was beyond the 24 weeks most hospitals permitted, that he made as many as 40 unsuccessful attempts to start an IV, that he asked her if he should crush the head in order to remove it, and that after three hours he had the fetal head wrapped in a towel and she was finally driven in an employee's car to the hospital. He left the patient several times during those three hours to do other abortions, and, after sending her to the hospital he remained at his facility to do three other abortions before going to the hospital to complete her abortion.
In 1987 Ricke had sexual intercourse with a patient in her home four days after he performed her May 2, 1987 abortion and had given her written instructions to abstain from intercourse for a week. He then offered to do a free pap smear during her upcoming follow-up appointment. Ricke said that he felt the doctor-patient relationship ended when they had sex. His lawyer indicated that Ricke had sex with his patient only because of her responses to his questioning about her enjoyment of sex and her receptiveness to his visiting her later at her home.
Ricke was censured by the Arizona medical board in November 1987 for performing an after-hours abortion alone on a woman. He allegedly had sex with her before doing the abortion. A newspaper quoted Ricke as saying: "I believe that if a woman decides to have a termination, it should be done safely, legally and with some dignity."
In 1988, two analysts recommended Ricke undergo extensive therapy because of drug and alcohol problems. Ricke had an unlicensed person, introduced to patients as Dr. Lopez, examining patients in his office, and that he had inadequate records. Ricke's attorney countered that Lopez, a Mexican medical school graduate, was hired as a nurse. Ricke was also investigated by police when fetal remains were found in the trash receptacle of an apartment complex; such disposal violated state health department regulations and state law. Ricke also settled at least three malpractice suits brought against him by his patients.
In 1987, the abortionist voluntarily entered an in-patient alcoholism treatment program. He then opened a weight-loss clinic and was disciplined by Arizona authorities in 1996 for prescribing drugs without a license.
As of July 2001, Ricke was in California doing business as the "Institute for Aesthetic Medicine," doing Botox injections and advertising that he "has over 25 years experience in the area of helping women look and feel beautiful."
A reporter for the Los Angeles Lay Catholic Mission called Ricke in 2004 and asked him if he had any regrets about his checkered medical career. He replied "I have no regrets. I am pro-choice."
References: Los Angeles County Superior Court Cases #C359986 and #C368721; Puma County, Arizona Case #280629; Phoenix Gazette, August 13, 14 and 15 and September 12, 1987; Arizona Daily Star, June 21 and August 13, 1987; Arizona Republic, August 13, 1987; Tucson Citizen, August 13, 1987; Anti-Life Report. "Arizona Doctor Who Botches Abortion Gets Slap on Wrist." ALL About Issues, May 1988, page 14; Leslie Bond. "Tucson Abortionist [P. Scott Ricke] May Lose License for "Gruesome and Shocking" Behavior, Faces 20 Charges of Misconduct." National Right to Life News, July 30, 1987, page 4; Betty Miller. "He'll Make You Feel Beautiful: Infamous Abortionist Returns to Southern California." Los Angeles Lay Catholic Mission, March 2004, page 11.
Death Threat, Sexual Abuse (43 incidents), and Sexual Assault (24 incidents)
Some of abortionist Brian Finkel's quotes;
"This is my abortion machine, where I do the Lord's work. I heal the sick with it.
"My mother's dead, but I'm looking forward to being an orphan. I can't wait for that nasty son of a bitch [my father] to die, so I can go piss on his grave.
"I'm the prince of the pelvis, the disciple of Elvis! The uptight, out-of-sight, feeling-all-right Dr. Brian Leslie Finkel.
"And you know what? I like myself. And that's what these other f—ers here in town don't understand. I like myself."
"You know, Filipinos have absolutely drop-dead gorgeous chicks. We used to call them LBFM. Little Brown F—ing Machines. Want to see a picture of an LBFM? I just happen to have one right here. ...
"Got a Tech 9 [gun]. Every gynecologist needs a Tech 9, so I could have more rounds, 'cause they were bringing me more Christians. There's a Smith and Wesson .40 and a few rifles, for crowd control down at the [abortion mill] office. Ya ever looked down [the barrel of] a gun? C'mon, it's fun. ... Pretend the Catholic hordes are after you."
"You know, I'm clean, I'm sober, I'm not doing drugs, I'm not stealing money, I'm trying to go to work. And I meet all these weirdos that want to give me s—, all because I like doing abortions for women. I help women doing abortions, that's my job, I'm really good at it. I've learned from the best, and I've seen the worst. And I keep running across these people who abuse their position of trust and under the call of authority try to ruin my life."
"I give all these guys [pro-life picketers] names, 'cause that personalizes it. We had this one guy that was stalking my office with his family. I called him 'Beer Belly,' he was a fat Mexican, stuff hanging over his belt. I go, 'Hey, Beer Belly, I want you to know that if your wife ever needs an abortion, I'll do one for free. Not because I'm a nice guy, but just because I want to get between her l-e-e-e-e-gs.'"
"I have this law firm that works for me, I call them the eight gnawing Jews — Sacks Tierney — and they just ... bit their ass for me ...
"Children of the Rosary is usually a very virulent, malicious group of harpies for Jesus. Kathy Sabelko [leader of the group] is a double-butt ugly mean-spirited bitch. It's reasonably apparent that she's physically challenged. She's just unattractive. Really, really unattractive. And I don't understand why she has this hatred for women, but she's one of these really mean-spirited Catholic misogynists who doesn't like women.
"Now you just have a bunch of Wal-Mart shoppers showing up out front. Retirees — it's obvious just looking at them they're retirees. They're on a budget, they don't have a lot of money, they have a lot of free time. And they're looking for an ego feed. 'Somebody tell me I'm important, please.' They've never been important in their lives at all. So they come down here to my office, and they prey on people.
"I believe in the eternal darkness of death. My Garden of Eden and my heaven is right here on earth.
"[Reverend Donald Spitz, director of Pro Life Virginia] has wrapped himself up in this mantle of moral superiority, but when you strip it off his shoulders you find his swastikas. He's a fascist. He's a religious zealot. ... Well, it's obvious that this man has a very obvious ongoing anti-social personality disorder, and I think he needs to increase his medication. ... The FBI needs to follow him around."
"My enemies would tell you that I'm a media whore. My enemies would tell you that I seek out publicity, and my opponents would tell you that I deserve it. ... I think of myself as a crime victim. A crime victim while I'm taking care of disenfranchised women. Disenfranchised women who don't have lobbyists. Disenfranchised women that don't own their legislators, 'cause they're not making payments to them for their positions. And I got tired of getting pilloried in the media."
"I just said, 'F— it. I'm smarter than the pro-lifers, I can form abstract thoughts. I'll talk to the media and explain to them what's going on.' You know, I don't call the media, the media calls me. ... I'm just a world-traveled, world-trained, world-class physician who speaks up for the little woman. That's all I am. And you know what? I do real good when I have no competition. ... I go after the big guys, honey. I don't like abusive men. I don't like abusive men who come after me and tell me that I'm worthless. I just won't take it. From anybody. Not from the ejaculator that inseminated the cow that birthed me, to any one of these dysfunctional, hate-filled religionists that I'm forced to interact with. ... If you let these cocksuckers get away with this on me, you're next.
"I will not interact with Planned Parenthood at all. That's unfortunate, but they're such a bunch of disingenuous miscreants, [and] I really don't want to have anything to do with their alternative-health-care universe that they run. They're taking advantage of their patients, and they're taking advantage of their tax-exempt status, and I don't want to lower my health care standards to theirs."
Perhaps it is inevitable that someone who speaks like this in public will behave abominably in private.
On October 24, 2001, Finkel, the owner of the Metro Phoenix Women's Clinic abortion mill, was arrested outside his Phoenix home, and accused of sexually abusing at least nine patients over an 8-year period. The arrest culminated a yearlong investigation by Maricopa County Attorney Rick Romley, who said that "every time we thought we could wrap up the investigation, another victim comes forward. ... This is not an abortion issue," Romley said, likening the investigation to his office's prosecution of abortionist John Biskind for a fatally botched abortion. "In the Biskind case there was clear medical negligence. In this case, there's clear sexual abuse."
On October 24, 2001, a grand jury indicted Finkel on 16 counts of sexual abuse and one count of sexual assault.
The indictment alleges that Finkel fondled patients' breasts and private parts. In one instance, he placed his hands over the mouth of a victim and held her against her will, the indictment charges. The charge of sexual assault involved oral contact with a patient's genitals.
Phoenix police had received sexual abuse allegations regarding Finkel as early as November 1992, according to the county attorney's office. During the seven years that followed, police got several more complaints about Finkel, but the investigation didn't go anywhere until March of 2000, when a woman said Finkel fondled her genitals just before she lost consciousness from anesthesia. When she woke, he "had his hands on her breasts," records said.
One woman who came forward after police arrested Finkel said she went to him for an abortion in October 2000. She said that "He came in and yelled, "Gown up above your chest." I wasn't sitting close enough to the end of the table, so he grabbed my legs and pulled me down on the table. He was very crude, militant like, very abrupt. At that point I just wanted to get it over with and get out of there." She said he touched her genital area and made rude comments. "It was very inappropriate the way he touched me," she said.
Phoenix police began investigating in March of 2000, when a woman reported being abused by Finkel, and authorities found additional victims, especially after the allegations surfaced in media reports.
The same week, the Arizona Board of Osteopathic Examiners in Medicine and Surgery ordered Finkel to stop practicing medicine immediately after the panel, which oversees osteopathic doctors, concluded that he poses "an immediate danger to the public." The board disagreed with Finkel's explanation of why he touched the women the way he did while performing abortions.
Investigators say that more than one hundred women have come forward, claiming that Finkel inappropriately touched them before or during examinations and abortions. Those allegations are still being investigated.
Finkel's attorney, Richard Gierloff, said that the many allegations were "meritless." Finkel entered a "not guilty" plea in Maricopa County Superior Court on October 31, 2001. Finkel said "They [abortion clients] misconstrue professional conduct for professional misconduct. Physicians that abuse their patients in this state go to prison. I'm not going to prison, because I'm not doing anything wrong."
It is revealing that seven of Finkel's former and current medical assistants saw the fondling and the sexual abuse but did not come forward on their own. Perhaps they were the usual pro-abortionists, who can tolerate a little sexual abuse and fondling in order to protect an abortionist who is providing, for them, a "service" which absolutely must not be impeded in any way, even to protect the health of women. Several of these pro-abortion assistants, when questioned by Phoenix police, said they were "uncomfortable" that Finkel was fondling patient's breasts during visits.
Not "uncomfortable" enough, apparently, to actually do something to protect the women. Even another Arizona abortionist, Robert Tamis, said that "I'm somewhat amazed that they didn't stand up and protect the patients." Tamis then astounded onlookers by trotting out a tired old pro-abortion slogan to support his allegation that a law protecting women from abuse is not needed: "How do you legislate morality?," he asked.
Tamis said that Finkel's defense that fondling a patient is customary when performing an abortion is unacceptable. He also said doctors need not touch a woman's breast either during or after an abortion. Breast exams, he said, are typically done only prior to an abortion to rule out breast cancer because it may be the only time a woman sees a gynecologist.
He said "In 40 years of practice in examining all types of patients, I've never had a reason to tell a patient that I might be touching the clitoris because I'm never near the clitoris. It's unfortunate the he (Finkel) is a doctor involved in the abortion movement because it puts a negative spin on it."
Pro-abortion Arizona Senator Sue Gerard, who chairs the Senate Health Committee, went so far as to blame the women for their problems: "I don't know what the answer is except to be better consumers."
Finkel has denied media requests for interviews, but has told investigators he has a "rigid and structured" medical practice and will not allow himself to be "victimized" by "these people," one report said. Finkel admitted that he might touch a patient's clitoris during an examination, but he "will not intentionally hurt them," the report said.
In separate audiotaped interviews by Phoenix police, four ex-medical assistants who had worked closely with Finkel told a detective that they had seen Finkel routinely perform what was crudely (and well-known) at the clinic as the "clit flick" — the improper touching of the clitoris during preoperative exams. One of Finkel's ex-assistants, Crystal Sykes, also told Phoenix police in 2000 that Finkel often "fondled the patient's breasts to wake them from [a] twilight sleep ... and every one of Finkel's medical assistants knew this." According to a police report, "Crystal stated mostly it was the cute patients." Sykes "stated she couldn't say if Finkel would manipulate the clitoris of every patient. Crystal said in some of the more attractive patients, Finkel would stay in the room and she would leave. Crystal stated she has re-entered the room and had seen Finkel rubbing the patient's inner thighs while the patient was in the stirrups. The report says "I spoke with Crystal about the pelvic exam and the allegations about Finkel manipulating the clitoris. Crystal stated how she felt uncomfortable about this part of the exam. Crystal said when the patient was attractive, Finkel would find reasons to stay in the room alone with the patients." Sykes worked for Finkel for about 18 months in the late 1990s. She told police she'd be willing to testify against Finkel. Finkel, of course, says Sykes is lying, and has a vendetta against him because he fired her.
The four former employees said that they were afraid to come forward and tell authorities what they say Finkel was doing to patients, because Finkel is a powerful man with powerful friends and might take revenge on them.
According to a police report, "Finkel would particularly fondle the breasts of larger-chested women or women with breast enhancement. I asked Karen [Corbett] if she had ever been out of the room and Finkel was alone with the patient. Karen said this happened numerous times. I asked Karen about the term "clit flick." Karen saw Finkel perform this "flicking." Karen had seen Finkel do this during every pelvic exam. Karen and other medical assistants told Finkel this was inappropriate. Karen reported she would become upset about this flicking and would look away."
One of Finkel's former employees, "C.S.," said that "He would touch them in places which they totally wouldn't be aware of because they were in twilight [sleep]. That's like a memory loss medication. You don't remember anything. He's done that quite often. ... Every nurse that worked there knows that it happened. ... I'm guilty of ignoring a lot of stuff he did there. Every nurse that's ever worked there knows how he is and what he's been doing." Another nurse, "J.O.," said that "He is a pervert and has sex with his patients. ... He's like a monster. He told [K.C.] he'd pay to get her teeth done if she'd give him a blow job."
Finkel denies all of this testimony, saying to the New Times that he has "never "clit-flicked" a patient for improper motive, or improper gratification. I don't want to, I don't need to, and I don't have to. Do I touch their breasts as anything other than as a professional part of their exam? No. I have no reason to, and I am not going to. I've gone out of my way to make sure, No. 1, that I'm never alone with a patient. No. 2, when I take a patient to the exam room, I tell her how to prepare for an exam. I leave the room and she undresses by herself. I come back in the room with a medical assistant by my side, or one at my beck and call. I never examine a patient without a female attendant being present. No ifs, ands or buts." Playing the victim, Finkel suggested that his accusers may have been manipulated by police as well as political opponents. "I do understand that, sometimes, law enforcement can be rather forceful in intimidating people into making statements that aren't true. ... I understand there are people in this community who don't like the fact that I'm an abortion provider. And I understand there are people under the color of authority who would like to make me unavailable for abortions. I've seen it in the past. ... This is my story, and I'm sticking to it. I intend to remain just as vigilant in the future as I have been in the past ... and to make myself available to the people of Arizona who so desperately want me, and seek me out."
A detective also informed Finkel's wife, Diana — who worked part time as Finkel's office manager — about the allegedly inappropriate fondling. However, Diana Finkel said that "No one ever has told me that my husband was doing anything inappropriate during any examination. I'm sure I would have addressed it with him immediately."
Finkel says he always tells his patients that he may inadvertently touch their clitorises, but only briefly and not for sexual purposes. But four OB-GYN doctors told The New Times that incidental contact with the clitoris during pelvic examinations is rare, and that forewarning patients about possible touching is unnecessary. Phoenix's sex-crimes detective Arthur Haduch broached the subject during his investigation with Kim Yedowitz, a supervising nurse at Scottsdale Healthcare/Osborn. His report says Yedowitz told him there is no medical reason to manipulate a clitoris during a pelvic exam. Yedowitz told Haduch a doctor may have incidental contact with a patient's clitoris, but the patient wouldn't report it as rubbing, "flicking" or repeated touching. The nurse also said that there is no reason for a doctor to perform a second breast examination after an abortion.
Detective Haduch concluded in a June 2000 report that "Based on the information, Dr. Finkel has established a history of molesting his patients during his abortion procedures." The detective recommended that the Maricopa County Attorney's Office prosecute Brian Finkel on charges of sexual assault and sexual abuse. That office assigned its own investigator, Mark Stribling, to look into the case.
Mark Crutcher of Life Dynamics, Inc., which has been investigating misconduct and violence by abortionists since 1992, says that "Finkel is not the exception, he is the rule. When it comes to abortionists, to think that Finkel is the bottom of the barrel only shows that you have no idea how deep the barrel is. Competent doctors do not end up working in abortion clinics. Finkel's attitude towards his "patients" and thinking that he is above the law makes him your average abortion provider. No one wants their son or daughter to grow up to be an abortionist. So what we have in these clinics are bottom feeders, ones who can't get a job doing real medicine."
Finkel heavily advertises the fact that he wears a gun to work to "protect" himself from the pro-life movement, a fact that groups like the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League make a lot of publicity about. NARRAL (Now NARAL Pro-Choice America) said that "Phoenix, Arizona physician Brian Finkel wears a bulletproof vest and carries a Colt .45 to work, where he straps a pistol to his waist and keeps a military helmet in a closet. His receptionists are armed with a baseball bat, a stun gun, and pepper spray." Finkel says that "When you're a nationally prominent abortion provider such as myself, you have to be more vigilant than others. When you're a lightning rod for public comment, you have to be more vigilant."
In reality, however, the only abortion-related injury Finkel ever sustained was clumsily getting his thumb caught in the rotating door of his last abortion mill. And, in the final analysis, it was Finkel's patients, not Finkel himself, who needed protection. It will be interesting to see if NARRAL, NAF and other abortion-promoting groups condemn the woman-molesting Finkel as strenuously as they do pro-lifers.
Maricopa County Attorney Rick Romley said on November 6, 2001, that additional victims have come forward who are not patients of Finkel. "We have new information totally unrelated to his practice. There have been similar types of allegations that have drawn investigators out into other areas" that need to be investigated." Romley did not elaborate, but did confirm that investigators are looking into only criminal matters. This alternative investigation focuses on Finkel allegedly giving steroids and steroid prescriptions to his patients and to himself.
Finkel remained in jail in lieu of $203,000 bond and was finally released on January 16, 2002. When he walked out of the jail, he griped that "I wouldn't wish this on anybody. There's a major public health problem in there [the Madison County Jail]. I was in there with necropheliacs, baby-killers, mother-killers and stranger-killers. I just want to go home to my wife and children."
He was rearrested on January 29, 2002 and charged with a total of 35 incidents of sexual abuse. He was released by nightfall the same day with a lower $100,000 bond. It seemed that his special "untouchable" status as an abortionist had served him well once again. Maricopa County Attorney Rick Romley angrily said that "Clearly the victim's rights have not been respected. We have victims scared of Finkel and what he might do. If this had been someone from south Phoenix with just one victim, the court would have set a higher bond."
Finkel is now on house arrest, monitored by an electronic bracelet, and faces an August 5 trial. Superior Court Judge Pamela Franks also prohibited Finkel from carrying his handgun, contacting any of his victims, or leaving Maricopa County.
Finkel's medical license was suspended on October 13, 2001.
A total of more than one hundred women have accused Finkel of sexual and other misconduct.
We should not be surprised that the self-described "champion of women's rights," the National Organization for Women (NOW), staunchly defended Finkel. This is the very height of hypocrisy — when choosing whether to support a male abortionist or dozens or even hundreds of injured women, the pro-abortionists will always support the abortionist. This is plain evidence that the pro-abortionists hold the "right" to abortion above the basic human rights of women. Janet Andress, spokeswoman for the Phoenix Chapter of NOW, said "We think at least 95 percent of the situation is contrived." Andress blames pro-lifers for Finkel's problems, saying, "They found a way to get rid of Arizona's most active abortion doctor and that's what they're doing." Andress refused to answer when asked what her position would be if only 5 percent, or five women, were telling the truth, and had been sexually assaulted by Finkel.
During Finkel's lengthy trial, 35 women testified against him.
The abortionist's defense tried to undercut the credibility of the women, often calling them "drug abusers" and "liars" and, in one case, even saying that "one woman had such a poor appearance and odor there could be no truth to her claims that Finkel propositioned her," as if a person's personal appearance was somehow related to his or her ability to tell the truth.
Two radio talk show hosts wondered how Finkel could attack the integrity and the character of women who had abortions when he was the one who performed them.
Finkel also complained frequently during the trial that he was "constantly being terrorized by domestic terrorists," but his whining carried little weight with the jury.
On December 2, 2003, the jury convicted the abortionist of 22 counts of sexual abuse in a Maricopa County Superior Court after 14 days of deliberation. The jury also found Finkel not guilty of 28 counts of sexual abuse and of six counts of sexual assault. The jury could not decide a verdict on four counts.
On January 2, 2004, Finkel's reign of terror against women and preborn children was finally ended with a 35-year prison sentence and lifetime probation. He must also register as a sex offender.
The abortionist immediately said that he would appeal, claiming that all of the charges should have been tried separately.
Prior to sentencing, a pro-lifer observed two of Finkel's physician friends laughing and joking. One said "My bets are he walks in six months!"
What may be most painful to Finkel is the loss of his incredibly lavish lifestyle. The Phoenix New Times reported that he raked in about $600,000 a year as an abortionist.
References: Arizona abortionist Brian Finkel, quoted in Amy Silverman. "The Terminator." Downloaded from www.phoenixnewtimes.com/1999/061799/feature1-1.html to feature 1-7.html, the online edition of the weekly Phoenix New Times, on June 21, 1999 [Finkel calls his abortion machine the "Super Sucker" and his abortion mill the "Vaginal Vault." In addition to killing preborn children, Finkel sells rugs in his abortion mill. He owns 30 guns, including one with armor-piercing shells. He and his wife Diane named their first aborted child "Ernie the Embryo," and laugh about it. Finkel passes out cards to pro-lifers that read "Jesus loves you. The rest of us think you're an asshole." Despite his obviously unbalanced nature, Finkel has full support from all pro-abortion groups. For example, Bruce Miller, executive director of Arizona Right to Choose, says that "I think a part of Brian's desire for publicity is in some ways because Brian is genuinely an unrecognized hero in our community, and I don't think that Brian has gotten the accolades that I think he should get or that Brian thinks he should get"]; Amy Silverman. "The Doctor Is Out: Lost Lease Causes Labor Pains for Flamboyant Abortionist." Phoenix New Times, July 27, 2000; NARRAL "Fact Sheet" entitled "Clinic Violence, Intimidation and Terrorism," downloaded from the NARRAL Web site at http://www.naral.org/mediaresources/terrorism.html on August 31, 2001; Paul Ruben. "Phoenix Abortionist in Trouble." Downloaded from the Phoenix New Times Web site at http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/issues/2001-09-20/feature.html/page1.html on September 20, 2001; Doug Hoeschler. "Bedside Matter." Phoenix New Times, September 20, 2001. Downloaded from the Phoenix New Times Online Website at phoenixnewtimes.com on September 24, 2001; "Abortion Practitioner Accused of Sexual Abuse Loses License." Arizona Republic, October 16, 2001; Kerry Fehr-Snyder. "Abortion Doctor in License Fight." The Arizona Republic, October 17, 2001; "Abortion Practitioner Accused of Sexual Abuse Loses License." Steven Ertelt's Pro-Life Infonet at http://www.prolifeinfo.org/infonet.html, October 17, 2001; Beth DeFalco. "Abortion Doctor Finkel Arrested, Accused of Sexually Abusing Patients." The Arizona Republic, October 24, 2001; Kerry Fehr-Snyder. "Assistants in the Exam Room Protect Doctors, Not Patients." The Arizona Republic, October 25, 2001; Beth DeFalco. "Physician Arrested in Sex Cases." The Arizona Republic, October 25, 2001; Beth DeFalco, Christina Leonard and Kerry Fehr-Snyder. "Complaints Against Abortion Doctor Triple After News Reports." The Arizona Republic, October 25, 2001; "Research Group Says Phoenix Doctor's Criminal Behavior is Common Among Abortion Providers." U.S. Newswire, October 25, 2001; "Arizona Abortion Practitioner Arrested on Sexual Abuse Charges." Pro-Life Infonet, October 25, 2001; "Well-Known Arizona Abortionist Arrested on Sexual Assault: Clinic Workers Who Witnessed Sex Abuse Did Not Report Until Police Investigation." LifeSite Daily News at http://www.lifesite.net, October 25, 2001; Beth DeFalco, Christina Leonard and Kerry Fehr-Snyder. "About 40 Accusing Doctor of Sex Abuse." The Arizona Republic, October 26, 2001; Beth DeFalco. "Sex-Abuse Claims Multiply for Doctor: 30 Additional Women Step Forward." The Arizona Republic, October 27, 2001; "Complaints Against Abortion Practitioner Triple After Arrest." Pro-Life Infonet, October 30, 2001; "Abortion Doctor Pleads Not Guilty to Sex Accusations." The Arizona Republic, October 31, 2001; "Arizona Abortion Practitioner Pleads Not Guilty to Sexual Abuse." Pro-Life Infonet, November 1, 2001; Beth DeFalco. "Investigation Into Abortion Doctor Widens." The Arizona Republic, November 6, 2001; "Sexually Exploitive Abortion Practitoner May Face New Charges." Arizona Republic, November 7, 2001; Pro-Life Infonet, November 8, 2001; Beth DeFalco and Christina Leonard. "Abortion Doctor Has History of Abuse Complaints." The Arizona Republic, November 6, 2001; Beth DeFalco. "Finkel May Face New Charges." The Arizona Republic, November 7, 2001; Dexter Duggan. "Pro-Lifers Had Warned Against Abortionist Arrested for Sex Abuse." The Wanderer, November 22, 2001, pages 1 and 8; Beth DeFalco. "Abortion Doctor's Trial Set for Aug. 5." The Arizona Republic, December 6, 2001; "News Notes: Probe of Phoenix Abortionist Widens." The Wanderer, November 22, 2001, page 3; Arizona Republic, December 6, 2001; "Arizona Abortion Practitioner's Trail Date Set." Pro-Life Infonet, December 7, 2001; "More Charges May be Filed Against AZ Abortion Practitioner." Associated Press, January 8, 2002; Pro-Life Infonet, January 10, 2002; Beth DeFalco. "Abortion Doctor Could be Free on Bond Thursday." The Arizona Republic, January 16, 2002; "Abortion Doctor Released on Bond, Will Be Monitored with Ankle Bracelet." The Arizona Republic, January 17, 2002; "Abortion Practitioner Who Molested Women Expected to Post Bail." The Arizona Republic, January 16, 2002; Pro-Life Infonet, January 17, 2002; Beth
DeFalco. "Abortion Doctor Finkel Arrested on More Sex Abuse Charges." The Arizona Republic, January 29, 2002; "More Women Accuse Arizona Abortion Practitioner of Molestation." Associated Press, January 29, 2002; Eduardo Montes of the Associated Press. "Phoenix Abortion Doctor Faces More Molestation Charges." The Nando Times, January 29, 2002; Beth DeFalco. "Abortion Doctor Rearrested, Faces Additional Charges of Sexual Abuse of Patients." The Arizona Republic, January 30, 2002; Pro-Life Infonet, January 30, 2002; "Finkel's Employees Tell Police They Saw Abuse." KPNX-TV Channel 12, Phoenix, February 1, 2002; "Employees Saw Abortion Practitioner Molest Women." Pro-Life Infonet, February 4, 2002; "Abortion Doctor Pleads Innocent to New Sex Charges." The Arizona Republic, February 5, 2002; "Abortion Practitioner Pleads Innocent to New Molestation Charges." Pro-Life Infonet, February 5, 2002; Beth DeFalco. "Abortion Doctor, Investigators Named in Civil Suit." The Arizona Republic, February 13, 2002; "Woman Sues Phoenix Abortion Practitioner Who Assaulted Her." Arizona Republic, February 13, 2002; Pro-Life Infonet, February 14, 2002; Dexter Dugger. "Arizona Women Reportedly "Scared" of Prominent Abortionist Free on Bail." The Wanderer, February 21, 2002, page 11; Gary McCullough. "National Organization for Women Says Women Are Lying." CCN News (Phoenix, Arizona), April 12, 2002; Beth DeFalco. "Abortion Doctor Faces Trial for Each of 35 Accusers." The Arizona Republic, September 16, 2002; "Abortion Practitioner to Face Trial for 35 Counts of Abusing Women." Pro-Life Infonet, September 17, 2002; Dexter Duggan. "Abortionist May Have 35 Sex-Abuse Trials." The Wanderer, October 10, 2002, page 7; Stephanie Paterik. "Doctor's 67 Counts to be Heard in 1 Trial." The Arizona Republic, October 11, 2002; "Charges Against Abortion Practitioner to be Consolidated." Associated Press, October 10, 2002; Steve Ertelt's Pro-Life Infonet at http://www.prolifeinfo.org, October 12, 2002; Beth DeFalco. "Abortion Doctor Rejects Plea Deal; Case to Appeals Court." Arizona Republic, November 27, 2002; Steve Ertelt's Pro-Life Infonet, December 1, 2002; Carol Sowers. "Jury Selection Starts in Doctor's Trial." The Arizona Republic, August 12, 2003; Carol Sowers. "Trial to Begin for Abortion Doctor in Sex-Abuse Cases." The Arizona Republic, July 11, 2003; Carol Sowers. "Doctor Faces 67 Counts of Sexual Assault, Abuse as Trial Starts Today." The Arizona Republic, August 18, 2003; "Abortionist on Trial for 67 Counts of Sexual Assault and Abuse." LifeSite Daily News, August 18, 2003; Carol Sowers. "Patient Testifies Doctor Re-Sedated, Groped Her." The Arizona Republic, August 19, 2003; "Trial of Abortion Practitioner Shows the Motivations Behind Abortion." Steven Ertelt's LifeNews at http://www.lifenews.com, August 25, 2003; Carol Sowers. "Former Assistant to Abortion Doctor Testifies He Was Inappropriate, Crude." The Arizona Republic, September 8, 2003; "Another Former Staffer Testifies against Abortionist Brian Finkel." Steven Ertelt's LifeNews at http://www.lifenews.com, September 9, 2003; "Doctor: Abortion Practitioner's Exam Methods Violated Women." Steven Ertelt's LifeNews at http://www.lifenews.com, September 30, 2003; Sherrie Buzby. "Mentor Says Finkel Within Bounds." The Arizona Republic, October 2, 2003; Carol Sowers. "Finkel Holds His Ground in Testimony on Abuse Claims." The Arizona Republic, October 2, 2003; Carol Sowers. "Defense Launches Its Case in Finkel Trial." The Arizona Republic, October 17, 2003; Dennis Wagner. "Finkel Gives His Side on Exam Steps: Abortion Doctor Defends Touching." The Arizona Republic, October 22, 2003; Richard Ruelas. "High-Tech Courtroom Can Record Dirty Details." Arizona Republic, October 27, 2003; Carol Sowers. "Judge Tosses Out Some Charges Against Abortion Doctor: Ruling Came Hours Before Closing Arguments in Trial." The Arizona Republic, October 27, 2003; Gary Grado. "Valley Abortion Doctor's Sex-Abuse Trial Begins Final Days." East Valley Tribune [Arizona], October 28, 2003; Carol Sowers. "Prosecutor Wraps Up Abortion Doctor Case." The Arizona Republic, October 28, 2003; Dexter Duggan. "Convicted on 22 Counts, Abortionist Finkel Could Face 75 Years in Prison." The Wanderer, December 11, 2003, pages 1 and 8; Tony Gosgnach. "Abortionist May Spend Decades in Jail." The Interim, March 2004, page 20.
Sexual Conduct with a Minor (2 counts) and Gross Negligence
Since 2000 in Arizona, girls under 18 have been required to get parental or guardian consent to have an abortion unless they seek court approval, which judges generally are obliged to grant.
But how can we expect Planned Parenthood or other abortionists to obey laws they don't like? After all, Faye Wattleton, former President of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), signed the 1984 declaration by the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) entitled The Human Right to Family Planning. This declaration said that "Family Planning Associates [the many worldwide Planned Parenthood affiliates] and other nongovernmental associations should not use the absence of law or the existence of an unfavorable law as an excuse for inaction; action outside the law, or even in violation of it, is part of the process of stimulating change."
In 1998, a 13-year-old girl in foster care went for an abortion at a Phoenix Planned Parenthood abortuary accompanied by her 23-year-old foster brother Shawn Stevens, with whom she was having a sexual relationship. Planned Parenthood didn't notify authorities until the girl returned six months later for a second abortion, court records show. Shawn Stevens paid for both abortions. Naturally, Planned Parenthood took the money and aborted her before notifying the authorities.
A judge found Planned Parenthood negligent for failing to report to Child Protective Services the abortion, in direct violation of the law — a case pro-lifers say is a key example of the importance of parental consent laws.
Lawsuits filed on behalf of the teen contend the Glendale girl was subjected to continued molestation and sexual exploitation because the abortion provider and others didn't notify police or CPS (Child Protective Services) of her first abortion on November 10, 1998. The girl's attorney also argued that Planned Parenthood's gross negligence led to her second abortion six months later.
Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Cathy Holt ruled in November 2002 that Planned Parenthood was negligent in failing to notify authorities when the girl first came in.
The Associated Press is withholding the girl's name because she is a minor.
Arizona Right to Life President John Jakubczyk, who is representing the girl's natural mother, said that "It's a real tragedy. (Planned Parenthood) knew what was going on. It's heartbreaking, and none of it had to happen."
The lawsuit accuses the girl's foster parents, Donald and Patricia Stevens, CPS, and Arizona Baptist Children's Services — responsible for monitoring some foster children for CPS — of failing to protect the girl from repeated sexual abuse.
A psychological analysis performed in July 2002 showed the girl was immature for her age and is emotionally scarred by the relationship. The analysis said that "She was probably functioning at about a third-grade level of maturity when her 23-year-old foster brother began having sex with her."
In court papers, Planned Parenthood lamely defended not reporting the abortion because "it does not follow that the negligence caused damages," and "no reporting would have been required if she had been eight months older."
When Planned Parenthood notified CPS after the second abortion in 1999, police arrested Stevens. He was charged with two counts of sexual conduct with a minor and was sentenced in 2000 to five years in prison and lifetime probation.
CPS spokesman Fernando Vendor said Donald and Patricia Stevens are no longer licensed foster parents.
The case supports the findings of an in-depth probe of Planned Parenthood by Denton, Texas-based Life Dynamics, Inc., which found "irrefutable evidence" that pro-abortion organizations such as Planned Parenthood and the National Abortion Federation "knowingly conceal" the crimes of sexual abuse of minors "while aiding and abetting the sexual predators who commit them." A Life Dynamics researcher — portraying a 13-year-old girl made pregnant by a 22-year-old boyfriend — called 800 Planned Parenthood and NAF facilities nationwide. The caller told the clinics that she wanted an abortion "because she and her boyfriend did not want her parents to find out about the sexual relationship," an eight-page summary of the report stated.
Among the findings, according to the summary, was that many clinic workers acknowledged the girl's situation was illegal and that they were required by law to report it, but an "overwhelming majority readily agreed" to keep secret the illegal sexual contact.
In May 2002, Planned Parenthood refused to give WorldNetDaily a response to Life Dynamics' claim, based on its investigation, that the abortion provider conceals the sexual abuse of minors.
References: "Planned Parenthood Found Negligent in Reporting Girl's Abortion." Arizona Republic, December 26, 2002; "Judge Finds Planned Parenthood 'Negligent:' Failed to Report 13-Year-Old's Abortion, Case Mirrors Pro-Life Probe." WorldNetDaily, December 27, 2002,
Vehicular Assault [Tempe]
At the Family Planning Institute abortion mill, a pro-abortionist nearly hit pro-lifer Kathleen Mooney with his car.
Reference: April 24, 1984. Vivian Warner. "On This Picket Line, Trouble." National Catholic Register, May 13, 1984, page 1.
Botched Abortion, Fraud and Incompetence
On October 11, 1985, 14-year-old Maria C. Akin went to abortionist Jonathan Agbebiyi at the A-Z Women's Center abortuary to have her unborn child killed. After going home, Maria became very ill and began to suffered severe abdominal pain. She called the abortion mill and staffers assured her that her symptoms were normal. On October 18, a week after the abortion, she was admitted to a hospital with a fulminating infection. An emergency room doctor found her uterus ruptured and infected, with extensive necrosis and acute inflammation.
This little girl, only 14 years old, required a total hysterectomy. She now requires life-long hormone replacement therapy and is completely sterile. Maria had been severely abused as a toddler, still bearing the scars of severe burns to the back of both her hands. The abortion mill's lawyers defense consisted of crude character assassination during her suit against them.
Agbebiyi had also been disciplined by the Arizona medical board in 1991 for incompetence and for giving false and fraudulent statements, and had been given probation for overcharging his patients.
Reference: Maricopa County Superior Court Case Number CV87-35222.
Vandalism [Tempe]
In April 1984, pro-abortionists vandalized the Tempe Right to Life office.
Reference: Vivian Warner. "On This Picket Line, Trouble." National Catholic Register, May 13, 1984, page 1.
Gross Negligence [Glendale]
On August 31, 2001, a girl who says she underwent two abortions after being impregnated by an adult foster brother sued Planned Parenthood. The 15-year-old, who was 12 when Planned Parenthood aborted her the first time, accused PP of Central and Northern Arizona of having failed to give authorities required reports until after the second abortion.
The lawsuit, filed in Maricopa County Superior Court, contends that the girl was subjected to continued molestation and sexual exploitation because the abortion mill didn't notify police or the state's Child Protective Services agency of her November 10, 1998, abortion. The girl also accused Planned Parenthood of gross negligence, leading to her second abortion six months later. According to court records, the adult foster brother was sentenced in October 2001 to five years in prison and lifetime probation. A Planned Parenthood spokeswoman, Beth Meyer-Lohse, said she could not discuss the case because it is in litigation.
This case shows once again that the "rape and incest" exception for abortion is tailor-made for covering up crimes by deranged male family members.
Reference: "Glendale Teen Files Lawsuit Against Planned Parenthood." The Arizona Republic, September 2, 2001.
Tucson
Conspiracy to Commit Murder, Conspiracy to Commit Manslaughter, Aggravated Assault and Possession and Transfer of Cocaine
On August 6, 2003, a Pima County grand jury indicted Melinda Ann Elem on one count of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and one count of transfer of a narcotic drug (cocaine).
Elem was arrested on July 25 after she allegedly contacted a person she thought was a hit man to harm a woman she believed was pregnant by Elem's husband.
Metropolitan Area Narcotics Traffic Interdiction Squads authorities received a tip that Elem, an airline sales agent, planned to hire a hit man for the murder.
MANTIS then passed the tip along to the Sheriff's Department on Wednesday, and authorities later scheduled a rendezvous with Elem. That man was actually an undercover sheriff's deputy posing as a killer for hire. Elem allegedly offered him around $800 worth of cocaine, and a bus ticket out of town to kill her husband's mistress.
The police are not naming the target, who is seven months pregnant, in order to protect her identity.
Sheriff's Detective James Grisham said that "Melinda Elem stated she wanted the baby (the other woman) was carrying to be killed. She did not care if the baby was stabbed or killed with a bat. As to the mother, she (Elem) did not care if she lived or died in the process."
On April 22, 2004, a jury found Elem guilty on the charges of conspiring to commit first-degree murder on the woman, manslaughter on the 7-month-old preborn baby, aggravated assault upon the woman, and transfer of a narcotic drug, 750 milligrams or more of crack cocaine, given in exchange for the "hit."
References: Jack Gillum. "Local Woman Arrested in Murder-for-Hire Case." Tucson Citizen, July 28, 2003; A.J. Flick. "Charge: Woman Sought 'Hit' Against Rival's Fetus." Tucson Citizen, August 7, 2003; A.J. Flick. "Murder-for-Hire Case Sent to Second Grand Jury." Tucson Citizen, October 14, 2003; A.J. Flick. "Woman Guilty of Plotting to Kill Fetus, Mother." Tucson Citizen, April 23, 2004.
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