The anti-abortion activists responsible for creating "undercover" videos of Planned Parenthood have both turned themselves in to authorities and posted bond.
David Daleiden, director of the Center for Medical Progress, posted $3,000 bond, made two court appearances Thursday and was offered a pretrial diversion he plans to reject, according to an Associated Press report published by ABC News.
His co-defendant, Sandra Merritt, was freed on $2,000 bond and was also offered the plea deal, but has not indicated if she will accept, according to the report.
Attorneys say the pretrial diversion, which would keep the defendants out of prison and ultimately result in dismissed charges, is typically offered to first-time nonviolent offenders, and people usually accept the probation, according to the report. Mr. Daleiden likely plans to reject the plea deal so he can use the trial to promote his cause, according to the report.
Mr. Daleiden and Ms. Merritt were indicted by a grand jury in January for felony charges of tampering with a governmental record, associated with creating fake IDs to pose as employees from a fictitious company that provides fetal tissue to researchers.
Mr. Daleiden was also indicted on a misdemeanor charge for attempting to purchase human organs. He maintains his innocence, describing himself as a "citizen journalist," according to the report.
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