A 20-year-old woman, Whitney M. Durant, a.k.a. Soren Monroe, faces a federal misdemeanor charge for allegedly vandalizing the wall outside HerChoice, also known as Bowling Green Pregnancy Center, 521 Ridge St., in April.
United States Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko, Wood County Prosecuting Attorney Paul Dobson, and Bowling Green Police Chief Tony Hetrick announced Wednesday that the charge under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act has been filed under information, that is not by a grand jury.
The FACE Act prohibits a person from intentionally damaging or destroying the property of a facility because that facility provides reproductive health services.
According to the press release, on April 15, 2023, Durant intentionally damaged the property of HerChoice, a pregnancy care center located in Bowling Green, Ohio, by defacing the clinic’s building with spray paint because the clinic provides reproductive health services.
Durant is a Bowling Green State University Student, the release states.
At the time of the incident, it was reported that someone used green spray paint to write the words “Liars,” “Fake clinic,” “Fund abortion,” “Abort God,” and “Jane’s revenge.” No other damage was noted. HerChoice has been criticized for promoting itself as presenting all options for pregnancies, however, the only information presented on abortions are details on the risks and side effects.
The press release states that an information is only an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum of one year incarceration.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Angelita Cruz Bridges and Wood County Prosecutor Paul Dobson, who is also a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, following a joint investigation by the Bowling Green Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
