(CNSNews.com) -- The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Tuesday that a federal grand jury in Florida has indicted two people for "spray-painting threats" on crisis pregnancy centers in the state -- threats including "YOUR TIME IS UP!!" and "WE'RE COMING for U."
The indictment "alleges that Caleb Freestone, 27, and Amber Smith-Stewart, 23, engaged in a conspiracy to prevent employees of reproductive health services facilities from providing those services," states a DOJ press release. "[A]s part of the conspiracy, the defendants targeted pregnancy resource facilities and vandalized those facilities with spray-painted threats."
The DOJ further said, "Freestone and Smith-Stewart, and other co-conspirators, are alleged to have spray painted threats, including 'If abortions aren’t safe than niether [sic] are you,' 'YOUR TIME IS UP!!,' 'WE’RE COMING for U,' and 'We are everywhere,' on a reproductive health services facility in Winter Haven, Florida."
The defendants also allegedly targeted "facilities in Hollywood, Florida, and Hialeah, Florida," reads the press release.
Furthermore, the indictment alleges that Freestone and Smith-Stewart "violated the FACE Act by using threats of force to intimidate and interfere with the employees of a reproductive health services facility in Winter Haven, " and by allegedly "intentionally damaging and destroying the facility’s property...."
The Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE) prohibits "threats of force, obstruction and property damage intended to interfere with reproductive health care services" or other federal statutes where arson, firearms, or threats are used. The FACE Act applies to all reproductive health offices, including crisis pregnancy centers.
If convicted of the crimes, Freestone and Smith-Stewart could face up to 12 years in prison and fines of up to $350,000, said the DOJ.
Commenting on the case, SBA Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser said, “Since the leak of the Dobbs decision eight months ago, there have been at least 79 attacks -- including firebombings and threats of violence – on pregnancy centers and other nonprofits working to save lives. In Michigan a pro-life advocate was shot while peacefully canvassing."
“These charges are good first steps, but the fight for equal justice is far from over," she added. "With a new House GOP majority positioned to exercise its oversight powers, we are finally beginning to see some accountability. Yet the Justice Department continues to target the people of states that protect unborn children and their mothers. The pro-life movement is keeping a watchful eye on this administration and we will not be silent in the face of violence and intimidation.”
In a recent Knights of Columbus-Marist poll, 91% of U.S. adults said they "support/strongly support" pregnancy resource centers that do not perform abortions but "offer support to people during their pregnancy and after the baby is born."