Klvana’s Bail Revoked, Request for Self-Representation Denied

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge on Friday revoked bail and refused to allow Dr. Milos Klvana, a Valencia obstetrician convicted this week of second-degree murder, to represent himself at his upcoming sentencing.

Klvana had sought to act as his own attorney during his sentencing, scheduled for Jan. 12. But Judge Judith C. Chirlin refused the request. She also revoked Klvana’s $750,000 bail.

Klvana has been in Los Angeles County Jail since February, 1988. He has been unable to raise the bail money, which was set at that time.

Klvana was convicted this week in the deaths of eight infants and a fetus born at clinics he operated in Valencia and Temple City, and each of the nine second-degree murder counts carries a sentence of 15 years to life in prison. Klvana, 49, faces the possibility of a life prison term.

Prosecutors charged that Klvana proceeded with high-risk deliveries outside of hospitals despite knowing he was incompetent and ill-equipped to handle them safely.

Klvana also was convicted of 28 counts of insurance fraud, five counts of unlawfully practicing medicine, two counts of grand theft, two perjury counts and one count of conspiracy. All of the charges are felonies.

Klvana represented himself for a nine-month period during pretrial proceedings, but earlier this year Chirlin persuaded him to allow lawyers Rita-Jane Baird and Richard A. Leonard to try the case.

Baird and Leonard will continue to represent Klvana. On Friday, the attorneys notified the judge they will file a motion for a new trial.