Threat against abortion doctor Warren Hern: Read the indictment here

As Patricia Calhoun pointed out earlier this morning, Boulder's Warren Hern, the last practitioner in the U.S. still doing late-term abortions, was the subject of a death threat by a Spokane, Washington, man, Donald Hertz, mere weeks after the murder of Kansas abortion doctor George Tiller. (Following Tiller's death, Hern,...

By Michael Roberts

August 27, 2009

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As Patricia Calhoun pointed out earlier this morning, Boulder's Warren Hern, the last practitioner in the U.S. still doing late-term abortions, was the subject of a death threat by a Spokane, Washington, man, Donald Hertz, mere weeks after the murder of Kansas abortion doctor George Tiller. (Following Tiller's death, Hern, who heads the Boulder Abortion Clinic, reportedly began seeing some of his late colleague's patients.) Click here to examine the indictment against Hertz, and look below to read the U.S. Justice Department release about the charges against him.

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, MAN INDICTED ON CIVIL RIGHTS CHARGES

RELATED TO THREATS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES CLINIC

WASHINGTON - Loretta King, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, announced today that a federal grand jury in Denver has charged Donald Hertz with transmitting a threat in interstate commerce and with violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act for allegedly threatening an employee of a Colorado abortion clinic. The FACE Act makes it a federal crime to injure, intimidate or interfere with, by force or threat of force, employees of a facility that provides reproductive health services.

The grand jury alleged in a two-count indictment that on June 23, 2009, Hertz, 70, of Spokane, Wash., contacted an employee of the Boulder Abortion Clinic and communicated a threat to the life of the family members of an employee of the clinic. The indictment also alleges the defendant intended to intimidate and interfere with employees of the facility because they were providing reproductive health services.

An indictment is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. If convicted, Hertz faces a maximum prison sentence of up to six years and a fine of up to $350,000.

The case was investigated by special agents from the Denver and Spokane Divisions of the FBI and deputies from the United States Marshals Service. The case is being prosecuted by the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department with the assistance of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado.

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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