Woman Charged Over Abortion Clinic Protest

A Van Nuys woman has been charged with violating a court order to stay away from a medical clinic after she allegedly harassed a couple who were seeking an abortion because the fetus was diagnosed as brain-dead.

Lucy Vargovcik, 34, is scheduled to be tried Dec. 27 in Van Nuys Municipal Court on misdemeanor charges of violating a court order and violating a preliminary injunction, each of which is punishable by a maximum of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

According to Mike Qualls, spokesman for the Los Angeles city attorney’s office, a Van Nuys couple--whose names were not released--arrived at the clinic in the 6900 block of Van Nuys Boulevard on Nov. 1 for a scheduled appointment in connection with the planned abortion.

Vargovcik allegedly confronted the couple as they drove into the driveway of the clinic, repeatedly urging them not to enter the clinic and tossed into their car anti-abortion pamphlets containing photographs of dead fetuses. She then allegedly followed them to a parking space and continued to harass them and tried to prevent them from entering the clinic.

The husband told police that he and his wife had planned to have the baby, but decided an abortion was necessary when the fetus was diagnosed as brain-dead after five months. He said his wife was greatly upset by the harassment.

Clinic officials called police, who arrested Vargovcik. She was booked and later released.

The clinic had obtained a preliminary injunction last December against Vargovcik harassing patients outside the clinic.

Neither Vargovcik nor clinic officials could be reached for comment.