Abortion clinic owner is guilty

A woman who operated an abortion clinic that catered to low-income Latino women has pleaded guilty to nine felony counts of practicing medicine without a license, officials said.

Bertha Pinedo Bugarin, 48, faces up to nine years in prison when she is sentenced Feb. 6.

Bugarin once operated six abortion clinics in Southern California, including Clinica Medica de la Mujer in Chula Vista, which advertised on Spanish-language television in San Diego. Nine former patients identified her as the person who performed medical procedures on them.

On Monday, Bugarin pleaded no contest in Los Angeles County Superior Court to seven counts of practicing medicine without a license at clinics in Baldwin Park, Huntington Park, Los Angeles and Panorama City. In that case, Bugarin faces up to seven years in prison unless she pays $7,885 in restitution to 16 former patients by Jan. 22. If the restitution is paid, she faces a maximum of five years.

Bugarin’s sister, Raquel Bugarin, 50, pleaded no contest in September to three counts of practicing medicine without a license. She was sentenced to three years’ probation, ordered to perform 500 hours of community service and pay $3,270 in restitution to six victims.

-- Tony Perry