Two indicted in targeting of Florida crisis pregnancy centers
Jack Birle
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A federal grand jury has indicted two Florida residents for allegedly threatening multiple crisis pregnancy centers in the Sunshine State.
Caleb Freestone, 27, and Amber Smith-Stewart, 23, were charged with violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act and engaging in a conspiracy to prevent employees at the crisis pregnancy centers from working.
The FACE Act makes it illegal to prevent someone from entering a reproductive health facility through force or threat of force.
FBI OFFERS $25K REWARDS FOR INFORMATION ABOUT ATTACKS ON CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTERS
Freestone and Smith-Stewart allegedly spray painted messages including, “If abortions aren’t safe than [neither] are you”; “YOUR TIME IS UP!!”; “WE’RE COMING for U”; and “We are everywhere” on the facility in Winter Haven.
“The indictment also alleges that Freestone and Smith-Stewart violated the FACE Act by using threats of force to intimidate and interfere with the employees of a reproductive health services facility in Winter Haven because those employees were providing or seeking to provide reproductive health services,” the Justice Department said in a release.
The Justice Department said the maximum sentence for the charges is 12 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and multiple fines adding up to $350,000.
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The indictments come less than a week after the FBI announced it is offering rewards of up to $25,000 for information related to a series of attacks and threats targeting crisis pregnancy centers across the country. This all comes after the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.