CARLSBAD, Calif. (KGTV) – A Del Mar doctor was arraigned Monday morning at a courthouse in Vista for criminal charges. A Carlsbad couple says they have security video of the radiologist crawling through their backyard at night, peering into their windows.
Dr. Jeffrey Lovin pleaded not guilty. The District Attorney’s Office amended its complaint to add a fifth count against the doctor for violating a criminal protective order. The four other charges are related to prowling and peeking and violating a restraining order.
The Carlsbad couple is Frank Zeigler and his fiancé. 10News is not showing her face or using her name. She fears Dr. Lovin, who she says is her former boyfriend. She tells 10News that she broke up with Dr. Lovin last summer. She said she told him, “You have to leave me alone. Do not contact me. Do not try to call me. Do not try to text me. Do not try to contact my family.”
She explained that he didn’t listen, so she got a restraining order.
In March, she and Zeigler got a home security camera system.
“We turned it on and the second night, I went and looked at the tape and I screamed,” said Zeigler.
Cameras captured a man, lurking. The couple said they were inside, making dinner.
“He stood in the shadows for a few minutes and then he got on his knees in the dark and crawled to the window and sat there with his face against the window trying to get a good view of what was going on,” added Zeigler.
The couple identified the man as Dr. Lovin.
10News was in the courtroom two weeks ago for Lovin’s first appearance in front of a judge. The judge issued a full protective order for Zeigler’s fiancé.
Today, the DA’s Office told the judge that Lovin already violated that protective order by calling the alleged victim last week. Lovin’s attorney said it was an accidental “pocket dial”. The judge reminded Lovin that he must stay away from the alleged victim. Otherwise, he faces a warrant for his arrest.
In an email, the Medical Board of California wrote to 10News, “…the Board is aware of the arrest, is looking into it, and will take action as appropriate."
According to the Board’s website, his license is current, but he's been on probation with the Board since 2017. Board documents show that in 2009, he was arrested, charged and convicted of spousal battery in California.
From 2009 to 2013, Board documents reveal he was "arrested several other times" and "charged with resisting arrest, domestic violence and violating a restraining order." The charges were later dismissed, but he "failed to report any arrest, charge or his criminal conviction to the Colorado board."
In 2013, the Board reports that he was cut from his job as a radiologist at a medical center "due to alleged inaccuracies in radiology reports and reports of inappropriate behavior" which he also failed to report to the Colorado board.
The next year he was found to have a "physical or mental illness condition" rendering him "unable to perform medical service with reasonable skill...".
Lovin’s next hearing is in July. His trial is scheduled for August 27th.
