Charges dropped against Texas woman accused of self-induced abortion

RIO GRANDE CITY, Texas — Prices have been dropped in opposition to a 26-year-old Texas lady who was accused by authorities of inflicting “the demise of a person by self-induced abortion,” in a state that has probably the most restrictive abortion legal guidelines within the U.S.

The video above is from a earlier report.

It is unclear whether or not Lizelle Herrera is accused of getting an abortion or whether or not she helped another person get an abortion.

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Herrera was arrested Thursday and jailed Saturday on a $500,000 bond within the Starr County jail in Rio Grande Metropolis, on the U.S.-Mexico border, sheriff’s Maj. Carlos Delgado mentioned in an announcement.

Moreover reported by ABC13, Herrera is out on bail, based on the Frontera Fund.

“Herrera was arrested and served with an indictment on the cost of homicide after Herrera did then and there deliberately and knowingly trigger the demise of a person by self-induced abortion,” Delgado mentioned.

Delgado didn’t say beneath what legislation Herrera has been charged. He mentioned no different info shall be launched till a minimum of Monday as a result of the case stays beneath investigation.

However on Sunday, the native district lawyer introduced the choice to drop the fees.

The next is a part of an announcement from District Legal professional Gocha Allen Ramirez.

“I reached out to counsel for Ms. Lizelle Herrera to advise him that my workplace shall be submitting a movement dismissing the indictment in opposition to Ms. Herrera Monday, April 11, 2022. In reviewing relevant Texas legislation, it’s clear that Ms. Herrera can’t and shouldn’t be prosecuted for the allegation in opposition to her. Going ahead, my workplace will proceed to speak with counsel for Ms. Herrera as a way to convey this matter to a detailed. It’s my hope that with the dismissal of this case it’s made clear that Ms. Herrera didn’t commit a legal act beneath the legal guidelines of the State of Texas.”

A 2021 state legislation that bans abortions in Texas for ladies who’re as early as six weeks pregnant has sharply curtailed the variety of abortions within the state. The legislation leaves enforcement to personal residents who can sue medical doctors or anybody who helps a lady get an abortion.

Texas now bans medical abortions after 7 weeks of being pregnant

The lady receiving the abortion is exempted from the legislation.

Nevertheless, some states nonetheless have legal guidelines that criminalize self-induced abortions “and there have been a handful of prosecutions right here and there through the years,” College of Texas legislation professor Stephen Vladeck instructed The Related Press.

“It’s homicide in Texas to take steps that terminate a fetus, however when a medical supplier does it, it may possibly’t be prosecuted” as a consequence of U.S. Supreme Court docket rulings upholding the constitutionality of abortion, Vladeck mentioned.

One other Texas legislation prohibits medical doctors and clinics from prescribing abortion-inducing medicines after the seventh week of being pregnant and prohibits supply of the drugs by mail.

Medicine abortions usually are not thought of self-induced beneath federal Meals and Drug Administration laws, Vladeck mentioned.

“You may solely obtain the treatment beneath medical supervision,” based on Vladeck. “I notice this sounds bizarre as a result of you take the tablet your self, however it’s beneath a suppliers’ a minimum of theoretical care.”

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The Related Press contributed to this report.