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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sirens & Gavels

Plea deal mulled in abortionist threat case

DENVER (AP) -- A Spokane man accused of threatening relatives of a Colorado doctor who performs late-term abortions is considering a plea deal.

Federal court documents filed in Denver said Donald Hertz indicated he was willing to accept the offer with minor modifications.

His attorney Russell Van Camp said Wednesday he doesn't want Hertz to go to jail. Hertz is accused of calling the Boulder Abortion Clinic in Boulder, Colo., on June 23 and threatening to kill members of Dr. Warren Hern's family.

The call came within weeks of the slaying of Dr. George Tiller, who operated a similar clinic in Wichita, Kan.

Hertz faces charges of making an interstate threat and of violating a law protecting access to reproductive health service.

Read a previous story here.



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