Suspect in Threats to Abortion Foes Is Indicted Under New Law
A federal grand jury for the first time has indicted a man on one count of violating the 1994 Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act after he allegedly threatened abortion opponents instead of abortion providers.
The clinic access law authorizes the Justice Department to prosecute people who use force or make threats of force against clinics providing reproductive health services and counseling.
Daniel Adam Mathison, 23, is accused of calling First Way, which identifies itself as a pregnancy-support service, in Wenatchee on Jan. 2 and threatening to kill workers there.
Mathison also is accused of calling the National Life Center hot line on the same day and telling an operator he had a gun and was going to shoot abortion protesters outside clinics. The charges against him include one count of unlawful interstate communication.
An arraignment date has not been set. If convicted, Mathison would face up to 5 1/2 years in prison and fines of $350,000.
First Way, an affiliate of the Woodbury, N.J.-based National Life Center, opposes abortion and encourages pregnant women to choose other options.
Director Kathleen Ryan said Wednesday that she was pleased to learn of the indictment.
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