PROSECUTING VIOLENCE AGAINST HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS

Prosecuting Violence Against Health Care Providers

In 1994, a man was convicted and sentenced to life without parole for fatally shooting a doctor and his escort outside a clinic in Florida. Another escort was wounded. In the state case, the man received the death penalty.

In 1994, six individuals were convicted for blockading a clinic in Milwaukee. They were fined and sentenced up to 6 months. The Seventh Circuit affirmed the conviction.

In 1994, two defendants were convicted of violation the Hobbs Act and conspiracy in connection with two acid attacks on clinics in Syracuse. They were sentenced up to 41 months in prison and one was ordered to pay $52,000 in restitution.

In 1995, a man, who was mentally unstable, received pre-trial diversion, after threatening to kill a doctor during a telephone call to a TV reporter in Huntsville, Alabama.

In 1995, two individuals were convicted of blocking a West Palm Beach clinic by chaining themselves to the main entrance. The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the conviction.

In 1995, a jury found two individuals guilty of blocking a clinic in Wichita. Each was sentenced to 6 months in prison and one year of supervised release. They were also ordered to pay restitution to the clinic and local fire department.

In 1995, a man was convicted for throwing a bottle through the window of a car driven by a doctor attempting to enter a clinic in Houston. He was sentenced to one year in prison and one year of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution to the doctor for damage to the car. The Fifth Circuit affirmed the conviction.

In 1995, a defendant pled guilty to telephoning a bomb threat to a clinic in Indianapolis and was sentenced to two years probation and ordered to perform 100 hours of community service.

In 1995, a defendant pled guilty to making a series of threatening phone calls to a clinic in Yakima, Washington, that counsels women against abortion. He was sentenced to five years probation, 30 days home detention, 10 weekends of confinement, and mandatory substance abuse treatment.

In 1995, a defendant pled guilty to making threatening calls to numerous clinics, and was sentenced to five years probation with mandatory psychological treatment.

In 1995, an inmate in Wisconsin was sentenced to 63 months in prison - to be served consecutively to an unrelated sentence - for sending threatening letters to the President and to two doctors who perform reproductive health care services. No FACE charge was brought.

In 1996, a defendant was sentenced to 176 months in prison for, among other things, soliciting another person to violate the FACE Act by asking the person to assist him in killing abortion providers and burning clinics. The Seventh Circuit affirmed the conviction.

In 1996, a defendant was sentenced to 58 months in prison after pleading guilty to, among other things, committing arson at a clinic in Grants Pass, Oregon.

In 1996, a woman was convicted for mailing a death threat to a doctor in Milwaukee who performed abortions. She was sentenced to 46 months in prison to be followed by three years supervised release. No FACE charge was included.

In 1996, a defendant was sentenced to 30 months in prison after pleading guilty to chaining shut the doors to a New Mexico clinic, and thereafter setting fire to the clinic.

In 1996, eleven defendants were convicted under FACE for blocking three entrances to clinics in western New York. They were sentenced to varying terms, no more than four months. All were ordered to pay restitution for the damage to the clinic doors. An appeal has been filed.

In 1997, a defendant pled guilty to attempting to destroy a clinic in Bakersfield, California by use of fire and an explosive. The defendant was sentenced to 15 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release with the condition that he remain at least 250 feet from any clinic. He was also ordered to pay more than $16,000 in restitution to the clinic. No FACE charge was included.

In 1997, a defendant was convicted for attempting to burn a building housing a reproductive health care provider. The defendant was sentenced to 15 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. No FACE charge was included.

In 1997, two individuals were sentenced to varying terms up to 30 months in prison, ordered to serve three years of supervised release and instructed to pay more than $1,000 in restitution. The two had pled guilty to conspiring to commit two arsons at clinics in the Newport News/Norfolk area. No FACE charge was included.

In 1997, a defendant was sentenced to 27 months and two years supervised release after pleading guilty to making threatening telephone calls to clinics in Worcester and Brookline.

In 1997, two defendants were convicted of FACE charges after positioning themselves inside vehicles and blocking the entrances to a Milwaukee clinic. The two were sentenced to four and 24 months, each were ordered to serve three years of supervised release, and each was fined $3,000 and ordered to pay restitution to the city.

In 1997, a defendant pled guilty to setting a fire at a clinic in Falls Church, Virginia. The defendant was sentenced to 10 years in prison to be followed by two years supervised release. No FACE charge was included.

In 1997, a defendant pled guilty to setting fires at two California clinics on the same date in 1994. The defendant was sentenced to 81 months in prison to be followed by three years supervised release with the condition that he remain 150 yards from clinics. He was also ordered to pay more than $3,000 in restitution to the two clinics. The defendant did not plead to the FACE violation.

In 1997, a defendant was charged with making a threatening telephone call, including a bomb threat, to a Jackson, Mississippi clinic, and later that same day, making a threatening telephone call to an officer with the Jackson Police Department. No FACE charge was included.

In 1998, six individuals were found guilty of physically obstructing a second clinic in Milwaukee. The trial court originally dismissed the FACE charge. Then, after the Seventh Circuit reversed, it held a trial.

In 1998, a defendant pled guilty to entering a clinic in Oklahoma and attacking the clinic's only doctor by striking him with his fists and kicking him. Prior to entering the clinic, the defendant had been protesting outside the building. He was sentenced to three months in prison to be followed by three years supervised release with a special condition of 90 days home detention and he was ordered to pay $700 in restitution for medical expenses to the victim.

In 1998, a defendant was convicted of two FACE Act violations for abandoning two Ryder trucks in front of a Little Rock clinic to try to threaten the clinics' staff. Each truck obstructed vehicular access to the clinics' parking areas. Several businesses and residences near the clinics were evacuated for several hours while bomb and arson experts investigated the trucks.