After Abortionist Arrested, His Four Florida Abortion Clinics May Close

State   |   Dave Andrusko   |   Feb 19, 2016   |   5:17PM   |   Tallahassee, FL

The next time pro-abortionists assert that convicted murderer abortionist Kermit Gosnell was an “exception,” a “renegade,” or an “outlier,” remind them of the likes of James Pendergraft IV.

His sordid story is almost beyond belief. Here’s the latest on a man perpetually in trouble.

Florida newspapers reported today that after Pendergraft was arrested in South Carolina last month, four abortion clinics, including two in Orlando, now face the loss of their licenses. The Orlando Sentinel’s Margie Menzel reported

The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration filed administrative complaints last month against EPOC Clinic LLC in Orlando, Orlando Women’s Center LLC, Ocala Women’s Center LLC and Fort Lauderdale Women’s Center LLC.

“This is an administrative action to revoke the respondent’s licenses to operate a clinical laboratory and an abortion clinic,” the complaints said. …

All four clinics are associated with physician James Pendergraft, who performs abortions. Pendergraft was arrested in South Carolina in October for what the state described in the administrative complaints as “drug related offenses.”

The Agency for Health Care Administration delivered the complaints to the clinics on Jan. 19 and 20. They did not give details of Pendergraft’s arrest, and an AHCA spokeswoman said the arrest records were confidential.

Menzel noted that the clinics filed cases last week in the state Division of Administrative Hearings, changing the agency’s findings. Online dockets say administrative law judges have scheduled hearings in April in three of the cases.

So what were these “drug related offenses?”

World Magazine reported last month that Pendergraft was arrested October 5 by Spartanburg County Sheriff deputies. He and the woman passenger, identified as his wife, were pulled over for a traffic violation.

According to Bob Brown

A search of Pendergraft’s car turned up illicit drugs and forceps covered in blood and human tissue, leading Sheriff Chuck Wright to speculate that Pendergraft was operating an illegal mobile abortion business in the state.

He traveled around the state of South Carolina without a medical license, with drugs and with medical tools performing in-home abortions,” Wright said at an Oct. 9 press conference. “So basically we‘ve got an illegal baby killer and his wife was charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana”

Menzel reported that The Agency for Health Care Administration “also has been embroiled in recent months in legal battles with other abortion clinics over allegations that the clinics performed second-trimester abortions without having proper licenses. Four challenges filed by clinics remain pending in the Division of Administrative Hearings, while another case was settled.”

Pendergraft’s license has been suspended multiple times by the Florida Board of Medicine. His most infamous case was a 2001 lawsuit in which “A jury found the doctor and woman’s center negligent, and awarded the family more than $36 million in damages,” according to Channel 13 News. But there were plenty of other run-ins with the law.

Pendergraft and an associate, Michael Spielvogel, were convicted February 1, 2001, for fraudulently accusing a Marion County official of threatening them and later demanding millions of dollars from the county, the Star-Banner reported. They were sentenced to 46 and 41 months in prison, respectively. Pendergraft was released after serving only seven months of his sentence.

Pendergraft runs a website where he advertises that he performs abortions “after 24 weeks.”

LifeNews.com Note: Dave Andrusko is the editor of National Right to Life News and an author and editor of several books on abortion topics. This post originally appeared in at National Right to Life News Today —- an online column on pro-life issues.

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