See you October 15 as KVHD elder abuse defendants return to court: trial

The Kern Valley Healthcare District elder abuse update: Defendants back in court Oct. 15 for an arraignment in the elder abuse case from 2006 to 2007.

Oddly, two cases of abuse were in court this week as reported below, a nurse this past week, Monday, Aug. 23, was charged with a single count of felony elder abuse, and the other charges took place more than three years ago.

Currently, the court has ruled the enough evidence exists to bring about a trial in the Attorney General, Jerry Brown's elder abuse case against a nurse, doctor and CEO from the Kern Valley Healthcare District.

Pamela Ott, former KVHD CEO, Dr. Hoshang Pormir, and Nurse Gwen Hughes all appeared in court this week for the preliminary hearing. Attorney's for the defendants, Jim Faulkner, Bruce Blythe, both local Bakersfield criminal lawyers, and Donald Etra, the big gun, former attorney for Ralph Nader, stuck tightly together as Steve Muni of the AG office and investigator, Donny Fong, got ready to present their evidence.

Obviously, the Kern County judge found weight to the evidence, and after two and half days, it looks like a trial could be forthcoming.

Becca MacLaren, with Attorney General Brown's Press Office, still working on some details, offered a short quote regarding the status of the case.

"The major outcome of yesterday's preliminary hearing is that all three defendants were held to answer on all charged felony counts and enhancements. "Held to answer" means that the court found sufficient probable cause to proceed to trial. The next step is the arraignment, which will take place on Oct. 15 at the Kern County Superior Court."

More details to follow...