EVERETT — A psychiatrist whose license was suspended must take an anger management class and get a psychiatric evaluation of his own after being convicted of telephone harassment.
A Snohomish County Superior Court judge gave Dr. Said Farzad a suspended 364-day jail term, effectively sparing him time behind bars if he complies with sentencing conditions. In doing so, Judge George Bowden followed the recommendation from a prosecutor and the defense attorney.
“Of what is of much more concern to the state is his mental state,” deputy prosecutor Edirin Okoloko told the judge.
Under the sentence, Farzad, 63, must provide evidence he has received a psychiatric evaluation and follow any conditions that are recommended.
A jury convicted the Gig Harbor man of making a series of disturbing phone calls to a Bothell health insurance office in May 2014. He was upset that Molina had not yet approved a medication he had prescribed to a patient.
Farzad was working as psychiatrist at Sea Mar Behavioral Health Clinic in Tacoma when workers at Molina Healthcare reported receiving the defendant’s threats to shoot up the place.
Farzad is fighting the suspension of his medical license. He told the judge Thursday that he also plans to appeal his gross misdemeanor telephone harassment conviction.
“People did not hear exactly what did happen,” he insisted.
Detectives were told that Farzad frequently called the office whenever his patients’ prescriptions were delayed or they were denied coverage, according to court papers. Many of his patients were on government-funded health care plans and were required to have their prescriptions authorized by Molina.
Farzad called Molina several times May 5, 2014. He allegedly threatened to go to the business armed with a gun. Employees told detectives they were afraid that Farzad would carry out this threats.
Bothell detectives arrested Farzad the next day at his clinic.
Part of the sentencing conditions included complying with anti-harassment orders to protect the Molina employees.
Farzad admitted that he was upset with Molina over denying psychiatric medications to his patients. He continues to deny making any threats to employees.
Farzad was licensed to practice in Washington in 2005. State records show he has worked for at least three different clinics since 2012.
The state Department of Health suspended Farzad’s license shortly after his arrest. The suspension was upheld after a hearing.
Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446; stevick@heraldnet.com.
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