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Press Release

Farmers Branch Man Enters Guilty Plea for Damaging a Planned Parenthood Facility in Order to Disrupt Services

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Texas

DALLAS — Matthew Ring, 32, of Farmers Branch, Texas, charged with one count of damaging property of a reproductive health services facility plead guilty September 27, 2016, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Renee Harris Toliver, announced U.S. Attorney John R. Parker of the Northern District of Texas.

He faces 1 year imprisonment, $100,000 fine and not more than one year of supervised release. Sentencing is scheduled for January 30, 2017 before U.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay. 

According to plea documents filed in the case, in the early morning hours of August 29, 2015, Ring drove to the Planned Parenthood on Beltline Road in Addison, parked nearby, put on a surgical mask to try to disguise himself, took out a crowbar/tire iron and walked to the Planned Parenthood where he smashed a window. Ring then fled the location in his vehicle and was later pulled over by Addison police officers and questioned. Ring admitted to smashing the window because he believed abortions were being performed at the facility.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Addison Police Department were involved in the investigation.

Deputy Criminal Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa Dunn is prosecuting the case.

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Updated September 28, 2016

Topic
Civil Rights