One of the most bizarre thieves I can recall writing about pleaded guilty this week to stealing surgical equipment from Fountain Valley Regional Hospital and
was immediately sentenced to two years in jail.
Former doctor Roy Chi Wing Lung, 46, of Los Alamitos, wore scrubs and slept in hospitals during previous thefts but he added a wig while stealing surgical equipment from the Fountain Valley facility.
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Roy Chi Wing Lung, Alleged Hospital Surgical Equipment Thief, Has Bizarre Past
Let's try getting a handle on this dude in chronological order:
* In 1989, he earned a bachelor of science degree in bioengineering from UCLA.
* In 1993, he graduated from the University of Texas, San Antonio, medical school.
* In 1996, he completed graduate training at UC Irvine.
* In 2002-03, two of his patients died, leading to California medical board officials faulting his emergency room care and suspending his license to practice medicine. He was later accused of continuing to practice at a physical therapy office in Pomona while under suspension.
* In 2004, Lung pleaded no contest to misdemeanor counts related to theft of two hospital computers, a computer bag and another physician's parking sticker from Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. He spent four days in jail, finished 200 hours of community service and repaid the hospital $5,494.50 in restitution. For completing the terms of probation early, his conviction was set aside.
* In 2007, a hospital employee at Orange Coast Memorial Hospital in Fountain Valley confronted Lunch, who was wearing scrubs and identified himself as “Dr. Lin.” He declined to produce identification or wait for security, leaving with pockets that “were puffed,” according to a nurse cited in state records.
* In 2008, he was at Orange Coast Memorial again in scrubs as well as a fleece jacket with the hospital's insignia on it, which is not allowed by those not on staff. When an executive confronted him, Lung at first refused to identify himself and claimed he had a right to be there because he was a physician. He later called himself “Dr. Ray Lin” and told police he slept in the doctor quarters, ate meals, taken showers, watched television and used telephones and fax machines despite having no privileges at that hospital. For how long? Lung first told cops for two years then changed his story to say he had been doing it for 10 years. Cops later searched his car and found hospital sutures ready to be mailed out and a note from a “Steve” thanking him for his business.
* In 2009, his medical license was revoked after a hearing regarding “repeated negligent acts in connection with the care and treatment of two patients.” His crashing of hospital doctor quarters and various thefts were also referenced by board investigators.
* In 2010, for the Orange Memorial incident, Lung pleaded no contest to resisting a peace officer and obstructing a business, both misdemeanors, was placed on three years of informal probation and ordered to do 20 days of community service with Caltrans. He admitted he'd sold stuff he'd taken from the hospital.
* In 2013, Lung entered Fountain Valley Regional Hospital in medical scrubs and a wig, but an employee recognized him as a suspect police were seeking and notified security guards, who called the cops. Lung was arrested as he was driving away from the hospital. Police searched his home and found a stash of stolen surgical equipment.
* On Monday, Lung pleaded guilty to a felony second-degree burglary. Another felony count of second-degree burglary was dismissed, along with a misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct.
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OC Weekly Editor-in-Chief Matt Coker has been engaging, enraging and entertaining readers of newspapers, magazines and websites for decades. He spent the first 13 years of his career in journalism at daily newspapers before “graduating” to OC Weekly in 1995 as the alternative newsweekly’s first calendar editor.