Six other pro-life protesters sentenced to prison with Lauren Handy

Four pro-life protesters convicted of blocking the door to an abortion facility received their sentences on Wednesday. Two others received their sentences on Tuesday, along with pro-life protester Lauren Handy. The Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, or FACE Act, makes it illegal to block the entrance to medical buildings, including abortion facilities.

Who are the defendants? According to the Justice Department:

• John Hinshaw received a sentence of 21 months in prison on Tuesday.

• William Goodman received a sentence of 27 months in prison on Tuesday.

• Jonathan Darnel received a sentence of 34 months in prison on Wednesday.

• Herb Geraghty received a sentence of 27 months in prison on Wednesday.

• Jean Marshall received a sentence of 24 months in prison on Wednesday.

• Joan Bell received a sentence of 27 months in prison on Wednesday.

Lauren Handy received the longest sentence, getting 57 months in prison, or nearly 5 years. Two other defendants, Paulette Harlow and Heather Idoni, are scheduled for sentencing later this month. Idoni also faces another sentencing in July on a separate matter. Another defendant, Jay Smith, received a sentence in May of last year after pleading guilty to violating the FACE Act.

What did the Justice Department have to say about this? The Justice Department accused the defendants of violating others’ civil rights and alleged that they violently blocked the clinic entrance. Meanwhile, the Thomas More Society, representing Handy, described the protesters as peaceful. The Thomas More Society plans to appeal the conviction and sentence of at least Handy and challenge the constitutionality of the FACE Act.

Dig deeper: Listen to Leah Savas’ report on The World and Everything in It podcast about Idoni’s conviction and how it has affected her hometown community in Michigan.