Four More Clinic Blockaders Sent to Prison

WASHINGTON – In a move to bring justice to those who sought to block reproductive health care services, a U.S. District Court judge today sentenced four more defendants to prison for their roles in a federal civil rights conspiracy and Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act violations.

The defendants, Herb Geraghty, 27, of Pittsburgh, Joan Bell, 76, of Montague, NY, Jonathan Darnel, 42, of Arlington, Va., and Jean Marshall, 74, of Kingston, Mass., were convicted by a jury of their crimes, which involved creating a blockade at a Washington, D.C. reproductive health care clinic to prevent the clinic from providing and patients from receiving reproductive health services.

According to the evidence presented at trial, the defendants, along with their co-conspirators, traveled to Washington, D.C. from various northeast and midwestern states to participate in a clinic blockade that was directed by Lauren Handy and broadcast on Facebook. The blockade involved forcefully entering the clinic and setting up a blockade using their bodies, furniture, chains, and ropes.

The evidence also showed that the defendants violated the FACE Act by using a physical obstruction to injure, intimidate and interfere with the clinic’s employees and a patient, because they were providing or obtaining reproductive health services.

U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, and FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Scott of the Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division announced the sentences, which included:

Herb Geraghty, 27, of Pittsburgh: 27 months in prison and three years of supervised release.

Joan Bell, 76, of Montague, NY: 27 months incarceration and three years of supervised release.

Jonathan Darnel, 42, of Arlington, Va.: 34 months and three years of supervised release.

Jean Marshall, 74, of Kingston, Mass.: 24 months and three months of supervised release.

These sentences bring the total number of defendants sentenced to 7, with 3 defendants still awaiting sentencing. The investigation and prosecution of this case are ongoing and demonstrate the Department of Justice’s commitment to protecting the rights of women and other individuals seeking reproductive health care services.