Former UMC CEO could face nine charges previously tossed out
The state Supreme Court has overturned a lower court’s decision to throw out nine of the 10 charges against former University Medical Center CEO Lacy Thomas.
The court’s ruling, filed Thursday, said District Judge Michael Villani erred when he called the charges against Thomas “unconstitutionally vague” in 2011. Villani declared a mistrial.
The appeal from the district attorney’s office was heard earlier this year.
Thomas is accused of mismanaging the hospital’s money by awarding contracts to friends and associates of his from Chicago.
He was charged with five counts of theft and five counts of misconduct by a public officer. The court reinstated all but one of the theft charges, agreeing with Villani on that count that Thomas was not adequately informed of the charges against him.
Thomas, who has denied all the charges, was fired in 2007 when an independent audit discovered the hospital had lost $34 million the previous fiscal year. He was first indicted in 2008.
Contact reporter Richard Lake at rlake@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0307.
