Justice Department recommends no jail time for church attacker

Maeve Nota could escape jail time when he’s sentenced on June 2 for a federal charge of damage to religious property. Nota in March was charged by the Justice Department with a misdemeanor that can carry up to one year in prison and $100,000 in fines. But Fox News recently reported that the DOJ has reached a plea agreement with Nota that will recommend the attacker receive only three years’ probation. Nota, a man who was 31 years old at the time of his arrest last year, identifies as a woman.

What did this attacker do? Nota attacked St. Louise Catholic Church in Bellevue, Wash., damaging a religious statue, smashing a window, and spray-painting a church worker in the face, police said. Nota allegedly caused thousands of dollars’ worth of property damage in the attack, which occurred after the Supreme Court issued its Dobbs v. Jackson decision.

Dig deeper: Read Leah Savas’ report in Vitals about unsolved attacks on pro-life centers after the leak of the Dobbs. v. Jackson opinion.