Convictions in the Anna Nicole Smith Case

This is press release by LA County DA Steve Cooley's office:

Psychiatrist, lawyer convicted in Anna Nicole Smith case

LOS ANGELES – Anna Nicole Smith’s psychiatrist and her companion, an attorney, were convicted today of conspiracy in connection with obtaining drugs for the reality star and Playboy model before her death in 2007. A third defendant, also a doctor, was acquitted.

The Los Angeles Superior Court jury was in its 13^th day of deliberations when it announced it had reached verdicts on most of the charges in the case. It failed to reached verdicts on two counts against the psychiatrist and some of the charges in two of the conspiracy counts. Trial Judge Robert J. Perry declared mistrials on those counts.

“I am pleased that the jury reached guilty verdicts in this case,” said District Attorney Steve Cooley in a written statement.

“This case illustrates the problem of the overuse of prescription medicine in today’s society,” he added. “Medical professionals have a responsibility to ensure that the strict ethical guidelines of their profession are followed in prescribing medicine as part of the care of their patients.”

The jury convicted Khristine Eroshevich, 62, the psychiatrist, and Howard K. Stern, 41, Smith’s companion, of two counts of conspiracy to commit the crimes of obtaining a controlled substance by false name or address, and issuing a prescription that is false or fictitious. The time period covered by the counts was from June 2004 until February 2007 when Smith died in Florida of a drug overdose. The jury failed to reach a consensus on the other allegations in the conspiracy counts, including prescribing, administering and dispensing controlled substances to an addict; unlawfully prescribing a controlled substance; issuing a prescription that is false or fictitious; and violating the state Business and Professions Code.

Eroshevich also was convicted of one count each of obtaining a prescription of opiates by fraud, deceit or misrepresentation, and obtaining a prescription for opiates by giving a false name or address. The jury was evenly split between guilty and not guilty on two additional counts against Eroshevich – unlawfully prescribing a controlled substance and prescribing, administering or dispensing controlled substances to “Anna Nicole Smith, an addict.”

Stern was found not guilty of a third conspiracy count that also named the acquitted doctor, Sandeep Kapoor, 42. In addition, Stern was found not guilty of six additional counts involving obtaining and furnishing drugs for Smith. Besides the conspiracy count, Kapoor was found not guilty of another conspiracy charge and four additional counts involving furnishing the drugs.

Perry scheduled Jan. 6 for a hearing on defense motions for a new trial and sentencing, should those motions not be successful. Prosecutors Renee Rose and David Barkhurst of the Major Narcotics Division are expected to announce whether to seek a new trial on the unresolved charges.

Eroshevich and Stern each face possible maximum terms of at least three years in state prison. They remain free on bond. Kapoor’s bond was exonerated after his acquittal.

Steve Mikulan & the LA WEEKLY Part Ways

Over a week ago, Ciaran McEvoy told me that the LA Weekly gave Steven Mikulan his walking papers on October 9th.

(This is a very belated entry because this is the same day that Mr. Sprocket got laid off from his new job and not only have I been trying to finish sewing orders, I've been busy helping him try to find jobs in his field~which are very scarce at the moment.)

This was sad news for the LA Weekly, where Mikulan had worked for 25 years as a theatre critic and later, reporting on local politics and high profile trials.

LA Observed was the first to announce Mikulan's firing.

Marc Cooper praises Mikulan's writing. Peter Hong of the LA Times left the following comment there:

"Steve Mikulan’s trial stories read like a Los Angeles version of Murray Kempton’s dramatic courtroom storytelling. His reports from the Phil Spector trial were gutsy and lucid. Steve, by his example, pushed others in the mass market press corps to be more ambitious — precisely what an alternative press guy is supposed to do, right ?"

I spoke to Kevin Douglas Grant, senior editor at Neo Tommy about how I met Steven and through him, the great group of journalists I got to sit with at the first Phil Spector trial.

I wish Steven the best. He is one of the finest writers I've ever had the pleasure to meet.

UPDATE:
Steven is now writing for The Wrap. Here is his latest piece on the Anna Nicole Smith drama, the preliminary hearing of Howard K. Stern and doctors Khristine Eroshevich and Sandeep Kapoor on drug charges.