Milwaukee Pro-Life Sidewalk Counselor Vindicated: False Charges Dropped

MILWAUKEE, March 24, Today in Milwaukee municipal court, the Thomas More Society secured justice for a pro-life sidewalk counselor who was falsely arrested and charged with disorderly conduct last August. James Marcou, a veteran sidewalk counselor, was charged after two clinic escorts at the Affiliated Women's Heath Center claimed he was disorderly and obstructed free access to the abortion facility by striking a "clinic escort." "James Marcou can now carry on his life-saving work without this criminal charge hanging over his head," said Tom Brejcha, president and chief counsel of the Chicago-based Thomas More Society. "The city prosecutor dismissed the charge when the key complaining witness failed to honor the city's subpoena that he appear this morning to testify at an initial hearing before a city judge. Indeed, we had learned that this witness, known to pro-lifers as Gwynn and who regularly works as a patient 'escort,' gave police a false name -- Steve Smith -- and was subpoenaed to appear by that name. No wonder he didn't show up, as not only his name but also the rest of his story was falsified, and the whole truth would have come out clearly."