By Cheryl Sullenger
Wichita, KS – Abortion facility security guard was convicted of battery on a pro-life activist during a Municipal Court bench trial held on April 5, 2017, before Judge Bryce Abbott.
Carl Swinney, who works at the South Wind Women’s Center abortion facility in Wichita, Kansas, had been arrested on June 28, 2016, for attacking Jennifer (Patterson) McCoy as she took photos on the public sidewalk.
McCoy had been headed home with her children that evening at about 9:45 p.m. when she happened to pass the South Wind abortion business. A flurry of activity at the abortion center, which was unusual that late in the evening, caught her attention. When she stopped to investigate, she took out her cell phone and snapped a few photos, then called Mark Gietzen of the Kansas Coalition for Life to notify him the facility appeared open.
Gietzen manages a schedule of pro-life volunteers that offer assistance to abortion-bound women when the abortion facility is open.
That was when Swinney, armed with a .45 caliber pistol, approached McCoy, and grabbed her forcefully by her arm as she screamed, “Let me go.” McCoy struggled to get free, but Swinney would not release her. The attack took place in full view of McCoy’s frightened children, one of whom testified in her mother’s defense at the trial.
Also testifying was abortionist Leslie Page, who serves as medical director for South Wind. She testified that she had gone to abortion facility late in the evening to pick up another abortionist and take him to his hotel. That puzzled McCoy, who said she only saw women in Page’s vehicle. Page was slowly pulling out of the parking lot when Swinney attacked McCoy.
However, testimony from the abortion provider was sketchy, and McCoy told Operation Rescue later that she believed that Page had not told the truth when she claimed not to have seen the attack because Swinney had his back to her.
Judge Abbott also expressed skepticism over the defense’s claim that a clinic security camera just happened to inexplicably turn away from sidewalk where the incident took place immediately prior to the attack.
Judge Abbott found Swinney guilty of battery on McCoy. Swinney was placed on probation and ordered to take anger management classes. In addition, he was order to pay $436.50 in fines and costs. Swinney was ordered to reappear before Judge Abbott on May 10, 2017.
According to court records, Swinney must also reappear in court on May 1, 2017, on three drunk driving cases for which he was convicted last September.
“Based on his battery conviction and his multiple drunk driving convictions, Carl Swinney poses a danger to the public and should not be allowed to continue as a security guard at an abortion facility or anywhere else,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. “The fact that he continues to carry a loaded gun at South Wind despite his violent behavior, speaks volumes about clinic owner Julie Burkhart and her obvious disregard for the law and the safety of the public.”
McCoy told Operation Rescue that she is considering further legal action against Swinney and the South Wind Women’s Center due to serious injuries she received during the attack for which she was forced to seek medical care.
View Conviction Sheet from the Wichita Municipal Court.
Read: “Lives in Jeopardy: Abortion Center Security Guard Batters Pro-Life Mom, Drives Drunk”