Steven Lefemine, 68, of West Columbia, was sentenced to 60 days’ imprisonment and fined $1,000 after being found guilty of a misdemeanour violation of the Freedom of Access to Clinics (FACE) Act.
Evidence presented during his trial showed that Lefemine blocked the entrance to the Columbia Office of Planned Parenthood.
Testimony from the trial indicated that Lefemine was a frequent protester of the clinic and, on this occasion, physically sought to bar employees and patients from entering the facility. Lefemine recorded his activities and presented the audio/video recordings during the trial.
Lefemine was arrested by the Columbia Police Department for trespassing and removed from the site. During the sentencing hearing, United States District Court Judge Joseph F. Anderson noted that Lefemine has multiple previous convictions for similar behaviour.
The FACE Act was signed into law by President Bill Clinton in May 1994 in response to the escalation of violence surrounding abortion clinics in the early 1990s. The Act criminalizes violence toward or obstruction of healthcare facilities or places of worship.
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