Anti-abortion activist's human organ purchase charge dropped
Source: Associated Press
Anti-abortion activist's human organ purchase charge dropped
Juan A. Lozano, Associated Press
Updated 9:29 pm, Tuesday, June 14, 2016
HOUSTON (AP) A misdemeanor charge accusing an anti-abortion activist of trying to buy human organs while making an undercover video looking into Planned Parenthood practices has been dismissed, and his attorneys said Tuesday they are working to have a felony count the activist faces thrown out as well.
David Daleiden, 27, and fellow activist Sandra Merritt, 63, were each indicted in January on a felony charge of tampering with a governmental record for allegedly using fake driver's licenses to conceal their identities while dealing with Planned Parenthood at a Houston clinic.
Daleiden was also indicted on the misdemeanor count related to purchasing human organs. Video footage from the two activists showed them posing as representatives of a company called BioMax, which purportedly procured fetal tissue for research. Planned Parenthood has said the fake company offered to pay the "astronomical amount" of $1,600 for organs from a fetus. The clinic said it never agreed to the offer.
But Harris County Criminal Court at Law Judge Diane Bull on Monday dismissed the misdemeanor count Daleiden faced, ruling the indictment was flawed because prosecutors had failed to make reference within the indictment to any exceptions to the law prohibiting the purchase or sale of human organs. Under the law, there are several exceptions including if fees were being paid to a doctor or hospital for their services.
Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/texas/article/Anti-abortion-activist-s-human-organ-purchase-8127372.php