Jury: Woman faked cancer to get tax-funded abortion
PHOENIX — A Maricopa County Superior Court jury found a 30-year-old woman guilty Monday of defrauding the state after claiming she had cancer to receive an abortion.
Chalice Zeitner was accused of forging medical documents in 2010 to receive a taxpayer-funded pregnancy termination to begin treatment for her alleged cancer.
In court in early April, Zeitner's attorney, Adam Schwartz told jurors she believed she actually had cancer.
After performing the abortion in 2010, prosecutors said the same obstetrician delivered a baby she had the following year and grew suspicious after he could not find signs of cancer or of the procedures she had claimed to have.
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After deliberations, the jury found Zeitner guilty on 11 counts of fraud and forgery. She could face more than 30 years in prison.
“We are pleased the jury found Zeitner guilty on all counts," Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich said in a statement. "We hope Zeitner receives the maximum sentence possible for her despicable acts.”
Prosecutors disclosed a number of aggravating factors on Monday in court that could be considered in her sentencing.
These factors included committing a felony while on probation from a prior offense and misrepresenting herself and her situation for monetary gain.
After the prosecution, Schwartz asked the jury to consider the aggravating factors and question the level of seriousness each one holds. He asked if the sum of money Zeitner received for the procedure, which was around $6,000, was a large enough value to make it an aggravating factor.
Judge Pamela Gates set May 26 as a placeholder date for Zeitner's sentencing, which was subject to change.
A grand jury also has indicted Zeitner in a 2012 case on charges related to payments connected to charities that help veterans. Zeitner is scheduled for a status conference in that case on April 29.
Follow Katie Faller on Twitter: @katiefaller