Mich. man convicted in murder of anti-abortion activist

CORUNNA, Michigan (RNS) A Michigan truck driver faces life in prison after being convicted on Thursday (March 11) of murdering an anti-abortion activist. Harlan Drake 34, of Owosso, faces life in prison without the possibility of parole for the Sept. 11 shooting deaths of anti-abortion activist James Pouillon and gravel pit owner Michael Fuoss. Drake’s […]

CORUNNA, Michigan (RNS) A Michigan truck driver faces life in prison after being convicted on Thursday (March 11) of murdering an anti-abortion activist.

Harlan Drake 34, of Owosso, faces life in prison without the possibility of parole for the Sept. 11 shooting deaths of anti-abortion activist James Pouillon and gravel pit owner Michael Fuoss.

Drake’s attorneys argued that he was insane when he killed the men; prosecutors countered that he killed them because he felt that they had wronged or upset his family.


“I think he was prepared to accept either result,” said Drake’s attorney, Robert Ashley. “I’m not sure that result really mattered to him.”

The jury also found Drake guilty of a weapons offense related to his plan to kill an Owosso real estate agent the same day that Pouillon and Fuoss were killed.

Jurors took less than five hours to reach the guilty verdicts after listening to six days of testimony.

Drake thanked the jurors and the judge before deputies led him back to jail.

The shootings drew national attention because Drake killed Pouillon as he held an anti-abortion sign outside Owosso High School.

Drake later denied killing Pouillon over his stance on abortion but said he didn’t like the graphic protest sign.

Sentencing for Drake is set for April 23 in Shiawassee County Circuit Court.

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