David Daleiden Today Finally Surrendered Himself To Texas Authorities After Arrest Warrant Issued
The man who created a non-profit organization designed to take down Planned Parenthood Thursday morning turned himself in to Texas authorities after a warrant for his arrest was issued last month. David Daleiden was indicted by a grand jury in Houston that was investigating Planned Parenthood, but the only wrongdoing the jurors could find was his.
Accompanied by his Thomas More Society Special Counsel, Daleiden walked into a Houston courtroom, posted the $3,000 bond, and walked out.
Daleiden, the founder of the anti-choice Center for Medical Progress, is charged with tampering with a governmental record, a felony. If convicted, he could receive up to 20 years in prison. Daleiden is also charged with a misdeameanor of trying to purchase fetal tissue. His co-conspirator, Sandra Merritt, who created a shell company to attempted to by aborted fetal tissue, is charged with the same felony.Â
Attorney for both Daleiden and Merrit say their clients will plead not guilty, according to the AP.
Here’s his mug shot:
Right now Daleiden and his attorneys are expected to hold a press conference. Live video:
UPDATE:
Daleiden “was offered a probation deal typically reserved for non-violent offenders in which, if he keeps a clean record for a certain period, charges would be dropped, prosecutors said,” Reuters just reported.
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Image via Mike Friedrich/Twitter