BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- A judge ordered that a Roman Catholic priest accused of using a sledgehammer to smash equipment at a Birmingham abortion clinic be bound over to a grand jury to face possible felony charges.
The Rev. Edward Markley, 44, who last month was found guilty of assaulting two women during an incident at a Huntsville abortion clinic in June, appeared at a preliminary hearing Tuesday before District Judge Mike McCormack.
A clinic worker identified Markley, the pastor of Our Lady of Shoals Catholic Church in Tuscumbia, Ala., as one of two men who vandalized the Birmingham clinic May 12.
Ada Maria Hudson, 22, a counselor at Birmingham Women's Medical Clinic, said Markley was the man who destroyed medical equipment, a telephone and other items at the facility. She said he was armed with a sledgehammer.
'The other man said, 'We're going to take care of this place,'' said Miss Hudson.
She said Markley went to the back of the clinic, where she heard him 'smashing things,' and later went upstairs and again she heard sounds of 'destruction.' She estimated the men did $8,000 in damage.
The judge bound Markley over to the Jefferson County grand jury and contininued the priest's $5,000 bond. Assistant District Attorney Don Russell said the case may be considered the first full week of September.
Markley last month was fined $200, ordered to pay medical expenses and given a suspended 60-day sentence on the Huntsville assault charges. He is expected to be tried this month on felony criminal mischief charges in that case.
If convicted on the criminal mischief charges in Huntsville, he could receive up to 10 years in prison. A second felony conviction in the Birmingham case could result in up to 20 years in prison.
