Houston (AP)-an obstetrician in Texas has been arrested and accused of providing illegal abortions, as a result of which the first time that authorities have filed criminal charges under the state's near-to-total abortion ban, the PAXTON of Texton of Texas announced on Monday.
Maria Margarita Rojas is accused of the illegal performance of an abortion, a second -degree crime, and practiced medicines without license, a third -degree crime.
Paxton claims that Rojas, 48, illegally operated at least three clinics in the Houston region, where illegal abortion procedures were carried out in the direct violation of the Studies Act.
“In Texas, life is holy. I will always do everything in my power to protect the unborn, to defend and work the pro-life laws of our state to ensure that people without a permit endanger the lives of women by performing illegal abortions completely, “Paxton said in a statement. “The law of Texas that protects life is clear and we will keep those who violate it.”
Waller County District Attorney Sean Whittmore, whose office is located northwest of Houston, referred the business to Paxton for persecution, according to the office of the attorney General.
Waller County Court Records show that Rojas was arrested on 6 March and that she was released by Bond the next day.
Court reports did not state a lawyer for Rojas who could speak on behalf of her.
A woman who was reached by telephone in one of Rojas' clinics, said on Monday that she didn't know who Rojas was. Messages left in the other two clinics of Rojas were not immediately returned. On their Facebook pages, the clinics advertise various services, including physical exams, ultrasounds and vaccines.
Texas is one of the 12 states that currently enforces a ban on abortion at all stages of pregnancy. The prohibition of Texas allows exceptions when a pregnant patient has a life -threatening condition. Opponents of the prohibition say that it is too vague when it comes to when medically necessary exceptions are permitted. In the current legislative session of Texas, a bill has been submitted to clarify medical exceptions that are permitted by law.
The accusation of illegal execution of an abortion has a punishment of a maximum of 20 years in prison, while the accusation of practicing medicines without a permit has a fine up to 10 years in prison.
The Paxton office said it has submitted a temporary restraining order to close the Rojas clinics.
In the US, few or no criminal charges have been submitted that claim that the effect of illegal abortion clinics since the US Supreme Court v. Wade destroyed in 2022 and opened the door for abortion bans.
A large jury of Louisiana has sued a doctor from New York earlier this year for charges that she illegally abortous pills online prescribed to a Louisiana patient. Under a similar accusation, Paxton has filed a civil lawsuit against the same doctor.
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Associated Press reporter Geoff Mulvihill in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, contributed to this report.
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