Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 05/21/03

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Donna Edwards - 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Chief Deputy Larry Scoufos Deputy District Attorney: Joan Risse

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

DEFENDANT PLEADS TO TWO FELONY COUNTS IN MIDWIFE CASE

This afternoon the defendant in the case of People v. Nan Koehler, entered “no contest” pleas to two felony counts of practicing as a midwife without a valid certificate and under circumstances that created a risk of great bodily injury, or death. Superior Court Judge Robert Dale immediately found her guilty of the crimes and set the sentencing date on July 14, 2003.

The defendant changed her pleas on the second day of the preliminary hearing. Prosecution witness Dr. Diane Sklar testified yesterday and the prosecution’s case was scheduled to resume today when the defense sought a change of pleas in the case. Although Ms. Koehler could be sentenced to a maximum term of three years and eight months in state prison on the charges, the District Attorney will not seek an immediate state prison commitment. The court can sentence the defendant to serve up to one year in the county jail as a condition of probation.

The child and his mother are the victims in the two charged offenses of Business and Professions Code section 2053. The offenses occurred on February 28, 2000, when the mother gave birth. The three year old child is profoundly disabled and the mother’s prolonged labor exposed her to serious infection and hemorrhage. A third count of child endangerment, filed in the alternative, will be considered by the court but will be dismissed at the time of sentencing.

Deputy District Attorney Joan Risse, the assigned prosecutor, commented, “The judge’s findings of guilty hold the defendant accountable for her actions. This is a reasonable resolution of the case.”