Date: 07-24-2024

Case Style:

United States of America v. Bevelyn Beatty Williams

Case Number: 1:22-cr-00684

Judge: Jennifer L. Rochon

Court: The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (Manhattan County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: The United States Attorney’s Office in New York City

Defendant's Attorney:

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Description:

New York City, New York criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with Violating The Freedom Of Access To Clinic Entrances Act
Tennessee Woman Sentenced To 41 Months In Prison For Violating The Freedom Of Access To Clinic Entrances Act

On June 19, 2020, and June 20, 2020, Bevelyn Beatty Williams threatened and used force against patients and staff members at a reproductive health center located in lower Manhattan (the “Health Center”) and blocked patients and staff members from accessing the Health Center. In one instance, and as captured on video, WILLIAMS pressed her body against the door of the Health Center’s patient entrance and refused to move, preventing a Health Center volunteer from entering the Health Center. As a Health Center staff member (“Victim-1”) attempted to open the door for the volunteer, WILLIAMS purposefully leaned against the door, crushing Victim-1’s hand. Victim-1 yelled, “She’s crushing my hand,” but WILLIAMS remained against the door, trapping Victim-1’s hand and injuring it.

At various times on June 19 and 20, 2020, WILLIAMS stood directly in front of the Health Center entrances. WILLIAMS initially blocked the main entrance used by patients, causing the Health Center to have to divert patients to enter through the staff entrance. WILLIAMS responded by moving to block the staff entrance and directing others to do the same.

WILLIAMS livestreamed some of her conduct on June 19 and 20, 2020, on a social media account. On the livestream on June 19, 2020, WILLIAMS stood within inches of the Health Center’s chief administrative officer and threatened to “terrorize this place” and warned that “we’re gonna terrorize you so good, your business is gonna be over mama.” Similarly, WILLIAMS stood within inches of a Health Center security officer and threatened “war.” WILLIAMS also stated that she would act by “any means necessary.”

In addition to WILLIAMS’s conduct in Manhattan, on multiple other occasions from at least 2019 to 2022, WILLIAMS and others intimidated and interfered with individuals seeking to obtain or provide reproductive health services at other health clinics across the country, including in Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, and Brooklyn, New York. For example, in January 2022, WILLIAMS travelled to a health center in Fort Myers, Florida, where she directed other individuals to block health center entrances. As a result of the blockade, medical staff was delayed in treating at least a dozen patients, three of whom were scheduled for time-sensitive procedures that could have resulted in bleeding, infection, or significant pain without timely treatment. In addition, in July 2022, WILLIAMS invaded a health center in Atlanta, Georgia, where she screamed through the door at patients attempting to enter the facility until they were forced to leave. Among other things, WILLIAMS shouted that she’d go to jail before letting patients enter the facility for an abortion and that she was “not afraid to get arrested.”

Outcome:

Defendant was found guilty and sentenced to 41 months in prison and two years of supervised release.

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

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