VENTURA : Lawyer Accused of Offering Minor LSD

A Ventura attorney who has admitted taking LSD was accused by prosecutors Thursday of furnishing or offering to furnish the drug to a minor.

The Ventura County district attorney’s office filed a motion in Ventura County Municipal Court to add the charge to two others against Douglas A. Palaschak. A judge must decide whether the charge will be added.

Palaschak has pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to possess and possession of LSD. He is being held in Los Angeles County Jail on charges of failure to pay a traffic fine, a jail spokeswoman said.

Palaschak had said in previous interviews that he used the drug after work May 9 when he threw a party for himself, secretary Jessica Jobin and another employee. Prosecutors have said the other employee was a 17-year-old girl.

After the employee left, two Ventura police officers arrived and arrested him, Palaschak said.

Jobin, 18, was charged with possession of LSD for sale. The case against Jobin is pending, authorities said.

Further investigation led to the prosecution’s wish to charge Palaschak with supplying or offering to supply the drug to the 17-year-old, Deputy Dist. Atty. Kim George Gibbons said.

Palaschak, who has said that LSD and the drug Ecstasy should be legal, could not be reached for comment. But his attorney, Steve Pell, said Palaschak was not advocating violating the law.

“I think he has seen the light,” Pell said. “At least, I hope he has.”

Palaschak has asked to be placed in a two-year drug program, after which charges against him could be dropped, according to state law, Gibbons said.

But Gibbons said the district attorney’s office does not believe Palaschak is a suitable candidate.

“Our position is that . . . his attitude about drugs makes him unsuitable,” Gibbons said. “Not only does he think it’s OK, but he gives interviews with reporters that children will see.

“I find that deplorable.”