An Assemblywoman from California, arrested for shoplifting $2,500 in garments from a high-end retail store, has blamed the incident on absentmindedness caused by medications she takes to treat a benign brain tumor, as reported by the Associated Press for several news outlets on January 17.
The lawmaker, M.H., claims that the event in which she is accused of stealing a pair of leather pants, a skirt and a blouse, was an accident – and only occurred as she was distracted while using her cellular phone.
Amidst support from her fellow lawmakers, M.H. publicly apologized from the state Capitol last week. The response from her constituents in Hayward – many that were unaware of her shoplifting charge or her medical diagnosis – was varied.
One Hayward resident, M.H., commented as to his interest in the report saying, “We want to know the truth. Health matters are not always everyone's business, but in her position, it is the voter's business to know if their elected leader is competent for the job.”
The assemblywoman’s malady, diagnosed as brain tumor, is being treated by medication per her lawyer, Douglas Rappaport. The exact medication, and the treatment M.H. is under, has not been released to the press.
M.H.’s spokesman, Ross Warren, offered that she is not planning on resigning her position. Warren failed to disclose exactly when the brain tumor was diagnosed, only offering, “This has been around for awhile.”
On January 6 M.H. pleaded no-contest to the charge of shoplifting.
After the close of the legal case, John Perez, the Assembly Speaker, issued a statement that read: “She will continue to ably serve her constituents with the same talent and passion she has displayed throughout her time in office" and that he wished her a “speedy recovery from her recent diagnosis.”
UC Davis Cancer Center physician, and the chair of their neurological surgical department, Dr. Paul Muizelaar, commented that though he is not M.H.’s physician, a large tumor, if pressing on a patient’s front lobe, can effect their behavior.
Dr. Muizelaar also added that a tumor in that location – would require surgery and not medication.
In her public apology M.H. said that her medical condition “may have complicated the situation” and that she is “taking steps to deal with my health and continuing to work hard for my district and the people of California.”
Because M.H. had a completely clean record prior to the theft, her charges were reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor. Her alleged health was, per district attorney spokeswoman, Stephanie Ong Stillman, not taken into account in reducing her charges.
M.H. must now stay a minimum of 50 feet away from the store she admitted to stealing from. She must also pay $180 in fines, court costs and serve three years of probation.
After the sentencing another Hayward resident, T.V., commented, “I think they did right. She didn't have a record. And maybe she did accidentally walk out of the store. She certainly has enough money to pay so why would she try to steal?”
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