Doctor, Midwife Held in Deaths of Babies Are Denied Lower Bail

Bail for a Valencia physician and his midwife assistant held in connection with the deaths of five newborn babies was continued at $1 million each on Friday. Their attorneys said the high bail will prevent a release before trial.

Dr. Milos Klvana and assistant Dolores Doyle were arrested on Oct. 31. Prosecutors allege that they showed consistent negligence in treating high-risk pregnancies, many with home deliveries.

The case has been marked by the presence of dozens of the pair’s supporters at each court appearance. On Friday, a Los Angeles Municipal Court room was packed with about 75 supporters, many of whom groaned and sobbed when the judge let bail stand.

“There is ample evidence that both are likely to flee,” Judge Kathryne Ann Stoltz said in terse remarks to close the hearing.

Doyle, 34, of Montclair broke into tears and pointed at her five children, who were seated with supporters. “I want to be with my children,” she shouted.

Klvana, 46, is charged with 34 criminal counts, including five of murder. Doyle is charged with 24 counts, including two of murder.

The deaths occurred in 1983 and 1984 and stemmed from Klvana’s medical practice at clinics in Valencia and Temple City, Deputy Dist. Atty. Brian R. Kelberg said. An investigation into the deaths of other babies is continuing, and more charges will probably be filed against Klvana and Doyle, the prosecutor said Friday.

Kelberg told the court that acquaintances of Klvana and Doyle, in interviews with investigators, quoted the pair as saying that they might flee to Texas or Mexico to avoid arrest. Klvana, who was born in Czechoslovakia, also allegedly discussed going to Europe, where his parents live, if authorities pursued him in Texas, Kelberg said.

Kelberg also alleged that the two were romantically involved and that Klvana is the father of Doyle’s youngest child, a 2-year-old girl. Doyle and her husband are separated.

The prosecutor portrayed Klvana as a doctor who had lied about his training to hospital administrators and said Klvana, who filed for bankruptcy in June, had cut his financial ties with the local community.

Klvana’s attorney, H. Elizabeth Harris, said that Kelberg’s statements maligned Klvana and that “there is no reason to suspect he is going anyplace.”

“He will not practice medicine” if he is released, Harris said. “So what danger would he pose to society?”

Members of Friends of Milos Klvana, a group raising money for his defense, said the bail and prosecution generally were evidence of an effort to clamp down on non-hospital births by the district attorney’s office and state medical officials.