020101Abortion doctor, associate guilty

Frank Stanfield -of the Orlando Sentinel Staff  

OCALA -- A federal jury Thursday found an abortion doctor and his associate guilty of conspiracy in an effort to extort Marian County officials.  

U.S. Judge Terrell Hodges ordered a pre-sentence investigation for Dr. James Scott Pendergraft, who operates five clinics, including two in Orlando, and his associate, Michel Spielvogel. 

Pendergraft could serve up to 30 years, and Spielvogel could serve up to 40. 

"The jury's decision brought out the truth," said Larry Cretul, the Marion County commissioner

who testified that the two men were trying to get the county to pay them not to move their

controversial clinic to Ocala.

Jurors deliberated for eight hours starting Wednesday, going over transcripts of secretly taped

meetings and phone calls.