Texas midwife arrested and charged with performing illegal abortions [View all]

Source: NBC News

March 17, 2025, 9:06 PM EDT


A midwife in Texas has been arrested and charged with performing illegal abortions and practicing medicine without the appropriate license. Ken Paxton, the state attorney general, announced the arrest, which he said Monday happened earlier this month, after an investigation by his office.

According to Paxton, the midwife, Maria Margarita Rojas, 49, is alleged to have owned and operated three health clinics in the northwest area of Houston. In a news release, Paxton accused Rojas of performing abortions in the clinics — which are banned by law in Texas — and of employing people who falsely presented themselves as licensed medical professionals.

The case appears to be the first in which a health care provider in Texas has been criminally charged with performing an abortion since the state’s ban went into effect in 2022. The abortion charge is considered a second-degree felony, with a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. The charge related to medical licensing is a third-degree felony.

The clinics did not comment when they were reached by phone, and Rojas did not immediately respond to inquiries. Court documents did not list a lawyer for her.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/texas-midwife-arrested-charged-performing-illegal-abortions-rcna196810