Former Las Vegas public hospital chief indicted on 10 felonies

LAS VEGAS " The former chief executive of southern Nevada's only public hospital has been indicted on felony theft and official misconduct charges that could get him 10 to 75 years in state prison.

Former University Medical Center boss Lacy Thomas appeared with his lawyer in a Las Vegas courtroom when the 10-count indictment was unsealed. He was not asked to enter a plea. A judge set bail at $500,000 and scheduled arraignment for Feb. 28.

Thomas was dismissed in January 2007 after auditors reported massive 2006 fiscal year losses at the medical center.

Authorities allege Thomas steered no-bid contracts to friends and associates in Chicago, where he had been director of John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital before being hired at UMC in 2004.