U.S. Federal Choose Joe Anderson, in a non-jury trial, discovered Christian pro-life activist Steven Lefemine, 68, responsible of violating the Freedom of Entry of Clinic Entrances Act (FACE ACT) after he sang the favored hymn “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty” and recited Bible verses outdoors of an abortion clinic in Columbia, South Carolina.
On November 15, 2022, Lefemine was protesting in opposition to abortions outdoors the Deliberate Parenthood South Atlantic in Columbia by singing hymns and quoting Bible scriptures.
Shortly after Lefemine’s protest started, the employees of the abortion clinic, together with the cops, requested Lefemine to cease blocking the doorway of the abortion clinic, to which Lefemine replied he would solely go away if “They agree to not kill infants at the moment.”
At his trial, Lefemine represented himself and cited the U.S. Structure, the Declaration of Independence, and Bible passages from Psalms, Exodus, Matthew, and Acts.
In line with the DOJ, Lefemine now faces a most penalty of six months in federal jail and a advantageous of as much as $10,000.
Abortion wars: It was man’s versus God’s legislation in SC on Monday, and man’s legislation carried the day.
Bible quotes didn’t assist Columbia anti-abortion protester. Federal choose discovered him responsiblehttps://t.co/uwFJ5XPWYr pic.twitter.com/CB0Pakzscs
— John Monk (@jmonkatthestate) March 12, 2024
Per Yahoo Information:
It was a uncommon court docket listening to wherein man’s legislation and God’s legislation have been debated. However in a Columbia federal courtroom on Monday, man’s legislation determined the case.
After a four-hour, non-jury trial, U.S. Choose Joe Anderson discovered Steven Lefemine, 68, a Bible-quoting, hymn-singing, Structure-citing anti-abortion activist responsible of obstructing the doorway to a Columbia Deliberate Parenthood clinic in November 2022. The clinic, situated off Forest Drive, gives abortions and in addition quite a few different features of reproductive and ladies’s well being care.
It was the second case, however first conviction, in South Carolina beneath the federal Freedom of Entry of Clinic Entrances Act, a measure handed by Congress in 1993 in response to waves of violence and mass protests in opposition to abortion clinics nationwide at the moment, the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace in Columbia mentioned.
“The defendant is now adjudged responsible,” Anderson mentioned after listening to proof from three witnesses and Lefemine, who represented himself and took the stand and skim off — as his personal lawyer — some 30 inquiries to himself, which he then answered.
Steven Lefemine was discovered responsible by a federal choose yesterday of violating the Freedom of Entry to a Clinic Entrances (FACE Act). That is the primary FACE Act conviction in South Carolina and was investigated by @FBIColumbia & @ColumbiaPDSC.
Particulars: https://t.co/Jt3JA65fMr pic.twitter.com/Ia91HlsuJJ
— U.S. Legal professional SC (@USAO_SC) March 12, 2024