Columbia, SC: Sentencing for FACE Act Conviction
Steven Lefemine (John Monk jmonk@thestate.com)
'Longtime anti-abortion activist sentenced to 60 days in jail for blocking clinic [sic] entrance'
The State (Columbia, SC)
Source: Steven Lefemine via e-mail to Angela Wittman, July 31, 2024, 6:12 PM Central Time
Wed, July 31, 2024
[ Emphasis, comments added by Steven Lefemine ]
An [anti]-abortion activist is headed to jail for blocking the entrance to an abortion clinic in 2022.
Steven Lefemine, 68, of West Columbia was sentenced to 60 days in jail and fined $1,000 by a federal judge after he was found guilty in March of violating the Freedom of Access to [a] Clinic Entrances Act, or FACE Act. It was the first FACE Act conviction in South Carolina.
Earlier this year, Lefemine, who has been widely known for years as a Bible-quoting, hymn-singing, Constitution-citing anti-abortion activist, was found guilty by U.S. District Court Judge Joe Anderson of obstructing the entrance to a Columbia Planned Parenthood clinic [sic] in November 2022. The clinic [sic], located off Forest Drive, provides [sic - commits] abortions, birth control services and numerous other aspects of reproductive [sic] and women’s health care [sic - child-murder by "abortion"].
It was the second case, but first conviction, in South Carolina under the federal FACE Act, a measure passed by Congress in 1994 in response to waves of violence and mass protests against abortion clinics [sic] nationwide, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Columbia said.
A former U.S. Military Academy graduate and industrial engineer, Lefemine represented himself during both his bench trial and sentencing hearing. Because the charge against Lefemine was a “petty,” or [misdemeanor], offense, he was not entitled to a jury trial, Anderson said.
Remaining unapologetic for his actions, Lefemine told Anderson Wednesday that God’s law trumps unjust human laws, such as the right for a woman to access reproductive [sic] health care [sic - child murder by "abortion"].
“I believe children living in the wombs of their mothers are legal persons and have the right to life,” Lefemine said.
[ Actually Steve said children in the womb are natural persons, and ought to be recognized by this court as legal persons. ]
Still, Anderson gave Lefemine “credit” for holding to his sincere religious beliefs and remaining non violent, pointing out that Lefemine notified Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook one day prior to him blocking the entrance at Planned Parenthood.
Lefemine is no stranger to run-ins with law enforcement involving anti-abortion protests. His March conviction marks the ninth time he’s been found guilty for either trespassing or disorderly conduct related to anti-abortion protests. Up until now, he’s averted jail time [sic - incorrect].
Indeed, it was the number of repeated offenses that drove Anderson to levy jail time.
[ Note: last previous arrest for interposing at an "abortion" center had been in 1993 in Lexington County, over 31 years ago. The court was informed of this today. ]
Assistant U.S. Attorney DeWayne Pearson prosecuted the case and maintained the prosecutors refrained from taking a position on whether abortion [child-murder] is right or wrong. He also said that the prosecution didn’t wish to infringe on Lefemine’s right to protest, but added that those protests must be lawful.
“No one seeks to bar (Lefemine’s) right to protest,” Pearson said. “However, he can’t block the door of a lawful [child-murder] facility where people are seeking reproductive [sic] health care [sic - child murder by "abortion"], even if he disagrees with it.”
Pearson had originally asked Anderson to sentence Lefemine to 90 days in jail and a $5,000 fine. But in light of Lefemine’s non-violent approach in protesting, Anderson found the 60-day sentence and $1,000 fine more appropriate.
Upon his release, Lefemine won’t be subjected to probation, Anderson said.
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Nashville, Tennessee
Sentencing for FACE Act Convictions
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Associated Press
'Three anti-abortion activists sentenced to probation in 2021 Tennessee clinic blockade'
Tue, July 30, 2024
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