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A14 The BulleTin • Tuesday, sepTemBer 21, 2021 Texas doctor who defied state’s new abortion ban has been sued BY JAMIE STENGLE Associated Press DALLAS — A San Anto- nio doctor who said he per- formed an abortion in defi- ance of a new Texas law all but dared supporters of the state’s near-total ban on the proce- dure to try making an early example of him by filing a law- suit — and by Monday, two people obliged. Former attorneys in Arkan- sas and Illinois filed separate state lawsuits Monday against Dr. Alan Braid, who in a week- end Washington Post opiniovn column became the first Texas abortion provider to publicly reveal he violated the law that took effect on Sept. 1. They both came in ahead of the state’s largest anti-abor- tion group, which had said it had attorneys ready to bring lawsuits. Neither ex-lawyer who filed suit said they were anti-abortion. But both said courts should weigh in. The Texas law prohibits abortions once medical profes- sionals can detect cardiac ac- tivity, which is usually around six weeks and before some women even know they are pregnant. Prosecutors cannot take criminal action against Braid, because the law ex- plicitly forbids that. The only way the ban can be enforced is through lawsuits brought File photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP Barbie H. leads a Sept. 1 protest against the six-week abortion ban at the Capitol in Austin, Texas. by private citizens, who don’t have to be from Texas and who are entitled to claim at least $10,000 in damages if successful. Oscar Stilley, who described himself in court paperwork as a disgraced former lawyer who lost his law license after being convicted of tax fraud in 2010, said he is not opposed to abor- tion but sued to force a court review of Texas’ anti-abortion law, which he called an “end- run.” Cranston Continued from A1 “Words were exchanged and shots were fired, and the state doesn’t feel it was jus- tified,” Hummel said. “We feel really good about the case.” Washington was a new resident of Bend, having moved from Sacramento, California, Hummel said. Hummel said Cranston was arrested by “I don’t want doctors out there nervous and sitting there and quaking in their boots and saying, ‘I can’t do this be- cause if this thing works out, then I’m going to be bank- rupt,’” Stilley, of Cedarville, Arkansas, near the Oklahoma border, told The Associated Press. Felipe N. Gomez, of Chi- cago, asked a court in San Antonio in his lawsuit to de- clare the new law unconstitu- tional. In his view, the law is police “pretty quickly.” Numerous people witnessed the dispute and the shooting. Investigators learned the two men did not know each other, and the shooting was precipitated by the victim speaking with Cranston’s girlfriend, Hummel said. “He asked her on a date,” Hummel said. “He wasn’t grabbing or pawing or molest- ing her. He asked her out, and her boy- friend didn’t like that.” a form of government over- reach. He said his lawsuit is a way to hold the Republicans who run Texas accountable, adding that their lax response to public health during the COVID-19 pandemic con- flicts with their crack down on abortion rights. “If Republicans are going to say nobody can tell you to get a shot they shouldn’t tell women what to do with their bodies ei- ther,” Gomez said. “I think they should be consistent.” According to a Facebook profile ap- pearing to be Cranston’s, he works as a machinist for Bend-based ammunition manufacturer Nosler. The Bend Police Department asks wit- nesses to the fatal shooting to call the nonemergency dispatch line at 541-693- 6911. e Reporter: 541-383-0325, gandrews@bendbulletin.com Campbell and she ran to a nearby home, where she pointed a firearm at the family of four while at- Continued from A1 Discussing the facts of the tempting to steal a vehicle. case, Jefferson County District She was arrested shortly after Attorney Steve Leriche called in the driveway of the home in the incident leading to Smith’s Terrebonne. death “quite a bit of chaos.” The sentence in the second “The defendant was case, 54 months in under the influence of prison, was assigned methamphetamine,” to run concurrent with Leriche said. “In fact, the sentence in the ho- both parties were un- micide case. der the influence of Last month, Cross methamphetamine.” was sentenced last On Dec. 16, Camp- month to five years Campbell bell was in the garage in prison for pleading of a home belonging guilty to two felonies: to several friends at 896 SW attempted first-degree robbery First St. in Madras. and unlawful use of a weapon. At the time, Smith believed On Monday, Campbell’s at- Campbell was involved in the torney, Geoffrey Gokey, noted theft of Smith’s daughter’s back- for the judge his client didn’t pack. She and an associate, go to the First Street house in- Robert Holquin, traveled to the tending to hurt Smith or any- house to confront Campbell one else. about it. “The evidence is the gun Campbell was armed with was in her hands when it went a loaded handgun. Smith also off, and my client feels terrible had a weapon: a ball bearing about that,” Gokey said, add- attached to a lanyard, Leriche ing that his client has been ad- said on Monday. dicted to meth for 10 years. According to the police ac- Campbell declined an op- count, Campbell pulled the portunity to address the court. gun on Smith and Holquin Vitolins apologized to Sam- attempted to grab it. The gun mons for Campbell’s silence. “went off” in Campbell’s hand. “To the members of Ms. A single bullet traveled Smith’s family, I am sorry that through Smith’s heart. She died Ms. Campbell was not able to shortly after. express any feelings of remorse For four days, Campbell or apologize for essentially kill- eluded police. She and an ac- ing your loved one. But I do complice, Thomas David James want to tell you that I am very Cross, set up a fake drug deal sorry for your loss.” with a man they knew. They Sammons declined to com- robbed him and stole his Ford ment as he left the courthouse. Ranger. Campbell later crashed “I’m done dealing with this the truck near Smith Rock place,” he said. while being pursued by po- e Reporter: 541-383-0325, gandrews@bendbulletin.com lice. She and Cross parted ways Central Oregon’s source for events, arts & entertainment Pick up Thursday’s Bulletin for weekly event coverage and calendars
