High-Country Health Food and Cafe in Mariposa California

'Click' Here to Visit: 'Yosemite Bug Health Spa', Now Open.
'Click' Here to Visit: 'Yosemite Bug Health Spa', Now Open. "We provide a beautiful and relaxing atmosphere. Come in and let us help You Relax"
'Click' for More Info: 'Chocolate Soup', Fine Home Accessories and Gifts, Located in Mariposa, California
'Click' for More Info: 'Chocolate Soup', Fine Home Accessories and Gifts, Located in Mariposa, California
'Click' Here to Visit Happy Burger Diner in Mariposa... "We have FREE Wi-Fi, we're Eco-Friendly & have the Largest Menu in the Sierra"
'Click' Here to Visit Happy Burger Diner in Mariposa... "We have FREE Wi-Fi, we're Eco-Friendly & have the Largest Menu in the Sierra"
'Click' for More Info: Inter-County Title Company Located in Mariposa, California
'Click' for More Info: Inter-County Title Company Located in Mariposa, California

May 16, 2024 – WASHINGTON – A U.S. District Court judge on Tuesday sentenced three of 10 defendants who conspired to create a blockade at a Washington, US DOJD.C. reproductive health care clinic to prevent the clinic from providing, and patients from receiving, reproductive health services. The announcement was made by 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.

U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly sentenced Lauren Handy, 30, of Alexandria, Virginia, to 57 months in prison and three years of supervised release. John Hinshaw, 69, of Levittown, New York, received 21 months incarceration and three years of supervised release. William Goodman, 54, of Bronx, New York, was sentenced to 27 months and three years of supervised release. All three were convicted by a jury of civil rights conspiracy and Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act violations. Four additional defendants will be sentenced on Wednesday, and two more in the coming weeks. Another of the defendants, the only one to plead guilty, Jay Smith, 34, of Freeport, New York, was sentenced to 10 months in prison and three years of supervised release in March 2023.

“These defendants conspired to use force to prevent fellow citizens from exercising rights protected by law,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Matthew Graves. “People cannot resort to using force and intimidation to prevent others from engaging in lawful activity simply because they disagree with the law. The Department was founded to protect the civil rights of our citizens and remains steadfast in this mission.”

“Violence has no place in our national discourse on reproductive health.  Using force, threatening to use force, or physically obstructing access to reproductive health care is unlawful," said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “As we mark the 30th anniversary of the FACE Act, it’s important that we not lose sight of the history of violence against reproductive health care providers including the murder of Dr. David Gunn in Florida – tragic and horrific events that led to passage of the law. The Justice Department will continue to protect both patients seeking reproductive health services and providers of those services.  We will hold accountable those who seek to interfere with access to reproductive health services in our country.”   

“As evidenced by today’s sentencings, the FBI and our judicial system will not tolerate the obstruction of civil rights,” said Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg. “The FBI will continue to investigate FACE Act violations in all jurisdictions, so patients and providers can exercise their right to receive or provide lawful reproductive health care without the threat of violence or intimidation.”

As the evidence at trial showed, the defendants engaged in a conspiracy to create a blockade at the reproductive health care clinic to prevent the clinic from providing, and patients from receiving, reproductive health services. As part of the conspiracy, Handy, Hinshaw, and Goodman traveled to Washington, D.C. from various northeast and midwestern states, to meet with Handy and participate in a clinic blockade that was directed by Handy and was broadcast on Facebook.

According to the evidence, Handy, Hinshaw, and Goodman – along with their co-conspirators – forcefully entered the clinic and set about blockading two clinic doors using their bodies, furniture, chains, and ropes. Once the blockade was established, their activities were live-streamed. 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.

DEFENDANTS

NAME

AGE

GUILTY OF

SENTENCE

Lauren Handy

Alexandria, VA

30

Found Guilty on August 29, 2023, of Felony Conspiracy Against Civil Rights and Violation of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act

Sentenced May 14, 2024, to 57 Months Incarceration and Three Years of Supervised Release

John Hinshaw

Levittown, NY

69

Found Guilty August 29, 2023, of Felony Conspiracy Against Civil Rights and Violating the FACE Act

Sentenced May 14, 2024, to 21 Months Incarceration and Three Years of Supervised Release

William Goodman 

Bronx, NY

54

Found Guilty August 29, 2023, of Felony Conspiracy Against Civil Rights and Violating the FACE Act

Sentenced May 14, 2024, to 27 Months Incarceration and Three Years of Supervised Release

Jay Smith

Freeport, NY

34

Pleaded Guilty March 1, 2023, to Violating the FACE Act

Sentenced Aug. 17, 2023, to 10 Months Incarceration and Three Years of Supervised Release

Jonathan Darnel 

Arlington, Va.

42

Found Guilty September 15, 2023, of Felony Conspiracy Against Civil Rights and Violating the FACE Act

Sentencing Scheduled for May 15, 2024

Jean Marshall 

Kingston, Mass.

74

Found Guilty September 15, 2023, of Felony Conspiracy Against Civil Rights and Violating the FACE Act

Sentencing Scheduled for May 15, 2024

Joan Bell

Montague, NJ

76

Found Guilty September 15, 2023, of Felony Conspiracy Against Civil Rights and Violating the FACE Act

Sentencing Scheduled for May 15, 2024

Herb Geraghty 

Pittsburgh, Pa

27

Found Guilty August 29, 2023, of Felony Conspiracy Against Civil Rights and Violating the FACE Act

Sentencing Scheduled for May 15, 2024

Paula ‘Paulette’ Harlow

Kingston, MA

75

Found Guilty Nov. 16, 2023, of Felony Conspiracy Against Civil Rights and Violating the FACE Act

Sentencing Scheduled for May 31, 2024

Heather Idoni 

Linden, Mich.

59

Found Guilty August 29, 2023, of Felony Conspiracy Against Civil Rights and Violating the FACE Act

Sentencing Scheduled for May 21, 2024

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, with valuable assistance from the Metropolitan Police Department and the FBI’s Pittsburgh Field Office. It was prosecuted by the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the Fraud, Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the District of New Jersey, District of Massachusetts, Eastern District of Michigan, Eastern District of New York, and Southern District of New York; and FBI Field Offices in Newark, New York City, Boston, and Detroit provided valuable assistance.

Source: DOJ Release