Authorities arrested a woman from Pennsylvania for giving her own teenage daughter so-called abortion pills. The suspect has been sentenced to imprisonment of up to 18 months. Police records show that the woman obtained the so-called pills online to assist her daughter in getting rid of her pregnancy.

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In the sentencing trial on Friday, the Montour County Court of Common Pleas Judge Gary Norton sentenced Jennifer Ann Whalen to be imprisoned for 12 months to 18 months. Norton stated that Whalen was to be punished for breaking a state law that exclusively give physicians the right to perform abortions. In addition to serving her prison sentence, a $1,000 fine was also given to Whalen. Moreover, Whalen was ordered to serve 40 hours of community service after her release.

Court documents reveal that Whalen, a 39-year-old single mother from Washingtonville, pleaded guilty in August to allegations regarding her online purchase of miscarriage-inducing pills, which she was said to have planned on giving to her own daughter. Whalen stated that the so-called abortion pills were ordered from Europe. She also admitted her intention of giving the pills to her 16-year-old pregnant daughter who she claimed to not want to have the child.

According to the Press Enterprise newspaper of Bloomsburg, no local clinic offering abortion services could be fined anywhere near their home. In addition, she admitted that her daughter had no health insurance that could cover the expenses of a hospital abortion.

Upon taking the so-called abortion pills, Whalen's daughter suffered from severe cramping pains and bleeding. The 16-year-old was then immediately taken by her mother to the nearest hospital. The newspaper indicated that the nearest abortion clinic to Whalen's house is approximately 74 miles away from Harrisburg.

In a statement to Reuters, Matthew Bingham Banks, the single mother's attorney, shared that this type of criminal prosecution is uncommon.

TagsAbortion, Ann Whalen, Pennsylvania, Miscarriage, Gary Norton, Washingtonville