Louisiana Man Sentenced in Manhattan Federal Court for Violating Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act

PREET BHARARA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; JANICE K. FEDARCYK, the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI"); and RAYMOND W. KELLY, the Police Commissioner of the City of New York, announced that RICHARD R. DUGAN was sentenced today in Manhattan federal court to three months in prison by U.S. District Judge ROBERT W. SWEET. DUGAN and his co-defendant THEODORE A. PUCKETT were found guilty in April, following a one-day bench trial before Judge SWEET, for unlawfully obstructing an entrance to a Planned Parenthood clinic, thereby interfering with clinic staff and patients, in violation of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances ("FACE") Act.

According to the Information previously filed in Manhattan federal court and evidence presented at the bench trial:

On December 12, 2009, DUGAN and PUCKETT obstructed the entrances to a Planned Parenthood clinic in lower Manhattan. Specifically, both DUGAN and PUCKETT positioned themselves in front of the clinic entrances, preventing anyone from entering or exiting the clinic by physically blocking the entrances. DUGAN and PUCKETT also interfered with clinic staff and patients who attempted to enter the clinic. DUGAN and PUCKETT continued their obstruction of the clinic entrances even after New York City police officers arrived and asked them to move away from the clinic. In addition, DUGAN and PUCKETT made clear that they acted in order to prevent clinic staff from providing, and clinic patients from obtaining, reproductive health services.

In addition to the prison sentence, Judge SWEET imposed a one-year term of supervised release, during which DUGAN will be prohibited from knowingly going within 1,000 feet of a reproductive health facility.

PUCKETT was sentenced on October 12, 2010, to one month in prison, to be followed by one year of supervised release, during which time he also will be prohibited from knowingly going within 1,000 feet of a reproductive health facility.

Mr. BHARARA praised the investigative work of the FBI and the NYPD in this case. He also thanked Planned Parenthood for their cooperation and assistance in this matter.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys ALVIN BRAGG and ROSS E. MORRISON are in charge of the prosecution.