The State - News from April 27, 1989

About 190 Operation Rescue anti-abortion protesters pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges stemming from their arrest March 23 at a Cypress family planning clinic. Deputy Orange County Dist. Atty. Jan Nolan said the plea bargain was offered to avoid the expense of separate jury trials. Prosecutors offered not to seek the maximum penalty of six months in jail and $1,000 fines if defendants would pay $75 in court costs, or spend two days in jail, or perform two days’ public service work with Caltrans. Another 180 defendants failed to appear, but were represented by lawyers who gained continuances. Prosecutors said that they cannot guarantee that those defendants will be given the same plea opportunity.