Joel Curry, a Saginaw, Michigan resident, is confronted with the possibility of spending over a decade behind bars due to his involvement in a non-violent demonstration advocating for pro-life views.
Speaking on Wednesday, Curry shared his dread at the thought of being separated from his wife and children for even another week let alone the up to 11 years he faces if convicted this month of felony conspiracy against rights and violation of the FACE Act. His trial, shared with six other defendants, kicked off this week at the Theodore Levin courthouse in Detroit.
Identified as a staunch Christian and advocate for ending abortion, Curry caught the attention of the current administration following his participation in a sit-in at the Northland Family Planning Clinic in Sterling Heights, Michigan. During a discussion with The Daily Wire, the enormity of a potential prison term seemed beyond comprehension to him.
Curry voiced some optimism that the sentences for similar charges in Tennessee suggested a maximum sentence might not be applied. He criticized the Justice Department, dubbing it a “department of injustice” for what he perceives as the misuse of the FACE Act to specifically target conservative Christians and pro-life advocates.
With a family to think about, including a very young daughter born on July 30, Curry recalls his uncertainty about being present for her birth. His pro-life stance was significantly bolstered after viewing the movie “Unplanned,” which prompted him to take an active stand against abortion. Before this heightened involvement, he was known to offer counseling outside Saginaw area abortion clinics, advocating for more Christian action in defense of the unborn.
The trial, also involving Eva Edl, Cal Zastrow, Chester Gallagher, Heather Idoni, Justin Phillips, and Eva Zastrow, moved past jury selection after two days. Judge Matthew Leitman, overseeing the jury’s formation, emphasized the importance of impartiality despite personal beliefs on abortion, highlighting the case’s significance without framing it around the morality of abortion.
U.S. Attorney Frances Carlson and Justice Department attorney Laura-Kate Bernstein are leading the prosecution, with the noteworthy development of Caroline Davis taking a plea deal to testify after reducing her felony charges to a misdemeanor. This plea resulted in her earlier testimony against other pro-life activists in Tennessee.
Heather Idoni, choosing self-representation, appeared in court under custody, marking her as notably distinct from her co-defendants. Her situation stems from a prior two-year sentence connected to similar pro-life activism.
