Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : Ex-Hospital Director Faces Conflict of Interest Charges

A former Antelope Valley Hospital director is facing felony conflict of interest charges for allegedly making a profit on a billboard he subleased to the hospital.

Prosecutors levied the charges Thursday against John Lawrence Parker, 47, who now lives in Austin, Tex.

“We have been looking into this for quite some time,” said Deputy Dist. Atty. Rich Goul, who added that the charges were the first fruit of an ongoing probe by the D.A.’s Special Investigations Division into a series of allegations involving Antelope Valley Hospital. The division is charged with investigating public corruption.

The Times was unable to reach the accused, who is better known as Larry Parker, for comment. Goul said Parker is expected to appear voluntarily in Los Angeles Municipal Court on Feb. 2.

Goul said Parker was cooperative when he talked to him on the telephone this week, but he said that a warrant will be issued for Parker’s arrest if he does not appear.

Parker, who in April, 1992, was a member of the hospital board, is accused of entering into a deal with the hospital at that time to sublet the billboard for $2,900 a month. Goul said Parker received 12 payments totaling $34,800. At the time, he was leasing the billboard from Martin Outdoor Advertising for $1,500 per month.

Parker was elected to the hospital board in November, 1988, and resigned on May 27, 1992, Goul said. Soon after, Parker moved to Austin.

Goul said prosecutors investigated the incident on a tip given to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

If convicted, Parker could be sentenced to a maximum three years in prison.

This is not the first legal action taken against Parker concerning the hospital. In May, 1993, a suit by hospital officials accused him of defrauding the hospital. Last October, the suit was settled with Parker agreeing to pay the hospital $40,000.

But in December, the hospital said it would resume its suit, claiming Parker never paid the money he owed.