Doctor Pleads Guilty To More Than 270 Fraud Charges

A Rancho Cucomonga doctor who saw patients in Palm Springs will most likely be going to prison for stealing her clients’ identities to get prescription drugs.

Dr. Lisa Barden, 41, pleaded guilty Wednesday to 274 out of 276 counts against her.

Barden still faces trial on two charges to which she previously had pleaded not guilty: one alleging she filed a false workers’ compensation claim for $62,000; and a second alleging that she filed a false police report.

Prosecutors said she used her patients’ identities to obtain more than 30,000 pills, primarily Vicodin and Oxycontin.

She was arrested in January of 2009 following a yearlong investigation.

Some of her victims were in court telling their stories to the judge.

“Now I have to rebuild and keep checking my credit, trying to figure out if i’m going to get any backlash for it. If so, then I have to fix it. That’s just more work on my end,” said Heather Halversen, one of Barden’s victims.

Jury selection is scheduled to begin Dec 28, with opening statements set for Jan 3.