Inquiry Into Official’s Conduct Ends : Finances: The district attorney’s office decides against criminal charges. The former Antelope Valley hospital administrator spent $4,000 in public funds for gifts.

The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office, in a decision released Wednesday, said it will not seek criminal charges against a former Lancaster hospital administrator who spent $4,000 in public funds to buy gifts for two departing hospital board members.

The decision puts to rest a long-running dispute over the conduct of John T. Evans, the former administrator of the publicly run Antelope Valley Hospital Medical Center, the largest hospital in the valley. Evans was ousted from the job in September, 1991, and now works elsewhere.

Although hospital officials said they ended the gift-giving practice after the January, 1991, episode that led to the controversy, the district attorney’s Special Investigations Division nonetheless concluded that Evans’ actions did not rise to the level of criminal wrongdoing.

“It could be fairly argued by some that these gifts were unwise, especially in times of tight budget constraints. However, it is not the function of this office to decide whether Mr. Evans acted wisely or prudently . . . “ wrote Deputy Dist. Atty. Carol Straughn.

The issue considered by prosecutors was whether Evans violated a state criminal statute that prohibits misuse of public funds by public officials. And Straughn concluded that the facts in the case would not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Evans had violated that law.

At issue was a January, 1991, party the hospital hosted for 28-year hospital director Clarence Kelly and 12-year director Michael Schafer after both were defeated in the November, 1990, election. Evans used hospital funds to give a $2,800 certificate to Kelly and a $1,200 one to Schafer.

The victors in that election--current hospital board member Steve Fox and now former board member Anne Brouillette, who were not invited to the party--later filed complaints over the expenditures. Brouillette’s complaint was filed with the county Grand Jury and referred to the district attorney. Fox’s complaint was filed with the district attorney’s office.

Straughn cited past court decisions that have given public agencies and officials “wide latitude” in determining necessary expenditures. Public funds may be spent for items that benefit private individuals so long as a public purpose, such as awarding long public service, is met.

The district attorney’s office also declined to pursue several other allegations, including that Evans illegally granted raises to several aides, that he failed to competitively bid two contracts, and that an aide illegally spent $1,170 to buy 60 Mickey Mouse ears and sweat shirts for employees.