ARTICLES
July/August 2000 ARTICLESLETTERS
Contents © 2000
by Jim Holman.
All rights reserved.
Caught Off Guard
Abortionist Sentenced to Jail
By Maggie Garcia
Winding up a highly charged case that some pro-abortion groups said was politically motivated and which was appealed twice to the California Supreme Court, on May 26 Judge Vilma Sherman sentenced Dr. Bruce Steir to "365 days in jail with 180 days suspended" for killing 27-year-old Sharon Hamptlon in December 1996. Dr. Steir was handed this sentence after having been on continuous probation since 1988 with the California Medical Board for prior problems, including repeated violations of his probation, lying to the medical board, and negligence in patient care. The case before Judge Sherman stemmed from Hamptlon's death which occurred after Steir had perforated Hamptlon's uterus during an unmonitored abortion he performed on her. The California Medical Board had imposed monitoring requirements on Steir as a condition of his probation.
Visibly moved by the testimony of the Hamptlon family, who spoke about the pain they still endure, and citing the fact that Dr. Bruce Steir has repeatedly shown negligence in his treatment of patients before he killed Hamptlon, the judge laid down her sentence of jail time.
The sentence caught Steir's defense lawyer, Doran Weinberg, off guard. Weinberg told Judge Sherman that his client "was not prepared to go to jail." He then added that "in my 28 years of practice [of law] I have never seen this." Weinberg pleaded with Judge Sherman for some additional time in order for Steir to get his affairs in order, citing his client's failing health. In her remarks, Judge Sherman said that she had received many letters of support for Dr. Steir and acknowledged his contributions to society. Yet she remained adamant that Steir should be punished for his crime because of his past history of negligence.
The prosecutor Kennis Clark told the judge that Steir had already received ample time in which to put his affairs in order. Judge Sherman pointed out to defense counsel that the hearing was a sentencing hearing and the defendant should have been prepared for jail time. The judge ordered the 67-year-old Steir into the custody of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department. Steir turned to say farewell to his family. Steir's wife, Yen, sobbed as she hugged her husband. Seconds later a wide-eyed Steir was approached by two Riverside County Sheriff's deputies who escorted him from the courtroom.
Judge Sherman ordered that the sheriff's department take Steir to the jail hospital for an evaluation because of defense counsel's concern that incarceration would medically harm the defendant. Later that evening, the Riverside County Sheriff's department confirmed that Steir was "on the medical floor of the jail."
Steir supporter Eileen Schnitger of Women's Health Specialists said that she was "appalled and disgusted. I don't think jail is warranted. I wasn't expecting this at all. He lives in San Francisco, he doesn't have the opportunity to say goodbye to his family. He's not a threat to anyone. Removing him to jail is unnecessary." Schnitger said that the judge's sentencing sets a "dangerous precedent. We are already seeing fewer and fewer providers." Schnitger said that fewer than 83 percent of counties in the United States have abortion providers. "Women are traveling long distances, funding is also an issue, there's the lack of support."
Jack Schuler, the attorney that represented the Hamptlon family in the civil matter brought against Steir, disagreed. "Finally there's closure. This shows that the judge took a very dim view of Steir's excuses. It [the sentence] showed that the judge felt it was important that justice be served and be served quickly. The judge wanted this case to be an example. No longer can abortionists hide behind the veil of being champions of reproductive right."
Jack Golan, editor of an internet site, Lektric.com, who has followed the Steir story extensively, said, "the only disappointment is that the law says that killing a black single mother need only disrupt your life for six months."
The Hamptlon family were happy that the ordeal was now at an end. "Thank you Lord!" was Benjamin Hamptlon's reaction to the sentence his daughter's killer received.