Indiana man pleads guilty to threatening abortion clinics

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A northwestern Indiana man has pleaded guilty to two federal charges alleging he sent threatening messages to two abortion clinics.

The Post-Tribune of Gary reported 34-year-old Luke Wiersma of Dyer pleaded guilty Tuesday in an Illinois federal court to sending a threat to injure and intimidating employees of a reproductive health services provider.

Federal prosecutors have said Wiersma posted online threats at least seven times in October and November 2017 through the websites of the clinics in Chicago and Hammond.

Court records say Wiersma wrote in one case, “I will blow you up if I have to, burn the clinic down.”

The plea deal states the anticipated sentencing guideline for Wiersma is 12-18 months. He’s scheduled to be sentenced in March.

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