DOJ indicts two people for targeting pregnancy centers

A federal grand jury recently indicted two Florida residents for spray-painting threats on pregnancy centers, the Department of Justice said Tuesday. Caleb Freestone, 27, and Amber Smith-Stewart, 23, conspired to keep center employees from providing reproductive health services, according to the indictment. They allegedly spray painted threats like “If abortions aren’t safe then neither are you,” “YOUR TIME IS UP,” and “WE’RE COMING FOR U” on several pregnancy centers in Florida.

What are the charges? The jury indicted them under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, aka the FACE Act of 1994. That act makes it a federal crime to physically obstruct the entrance, or use any type of force or threat of force to keep someone out of a reproductive healthcare clinic—which includes abortion centers and pro-life crisis pregnancy centers. If convicted, Freestone and Smith-Stewart could face a maximum sentence of 12 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and fines of up to $350,000. 

Dig deeper: Read Leah Savas’ report in Vitals on the discussion about legal penalties for a woman who gets an illegal abortion.