Criminals Vandalize Florida Pregnancy Centers: Three individuals have pleaded guilty to a civil rights conspiracy, targeting pregnancy resource centers in Florida with threats and vandalism. Caleb Freestone, Amber Smith-Stewart, and Annarella Rivera admitted to spray painting the facilities with threatening messages, including ‘YOUR TIME IS UP!!’ and ‘We are everywhere.’ The Justice Department vows to hold these attackers accountable.
According to court documents, the trio engaged in a series of attacks between May and July 2022. They wore masks and dark clothing during their nocturnal raids, leaving behind messages intended to intimidate employees of the centers providing reproductive health services.
‘These defendants vandalized pregnancy resource centers with threatening messages meant to terrify their staff,’ said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. ‘The Justice Department is committed to protecting access to reproductive health services, regardless of viewpoint.’
U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg for the Middle District of Florida emphasized the importance of reproductive health care providers’ rights: ‘Federal law protects those who render and seek reproductive health care. No one should be subject to unlawful intimidation or threats of harm.’
The FBI Tampa Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the Miami Police Department. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date, with each defendant facing a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacie Harris and Trial Attorney Laura-Kate Bernstein are prosecuting the case. The FBI encourages anyone with information about incidents targeting reproductive health services to report it at www.tips.fbi.gov.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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