Soledad Prison Psychiatrist Convicted of Grand Theft

The charges stem from an investigation conducted by the Office of the Inspector General between March 1, 2007 and June 30, 2007, which was initiated after receiving an anonymous letter that Dr. Eva and four other doctors were over billing the State of California. The investigation revealed that the doctors were contract doctors who were to submit daily timesheets for only those hours spent while inside the prison. Instead, they submitted false invoices claiming they worked the entire day when they worked only a portion of the day, amounting to $200,000 theft for the three-month period.

The conviction of Dr. Eva marks the fourth doctor convicted from this investigation.

In 2009, Santa Cruz psychiatrist David Hoban, who was chief psychiatrist at the prison, entered a plea of no contest for falsifying his timecard, and in 2012 he surrendered his license to the state medical board.

Dr. Randy Sid was convicted for his involvement, and charges against Dr. Charles Lee of Salinas were dismissed.

Superior Court Judge Larry Hayes presided over the three week jury trial and will sentence Dr. Eva on April 8. Dr. Eva faces three years State Prison.