Wyoming Clinic Torched: Arsonist Admits Guilt

CASPER, WY – Lorna Roxanne Green, 22, admitted in federal court Thursday to deliberately setting fire to the Wellspring Health Access Clinic in Casper, Wyoming. The clinic, still under construction, was slated to offer comprehensive healthcare including OB/GYN services, gender-affirming treatments, and abortion procedures. This wasn’t a case of accidental fire; it was a targeted attack.

Green pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson on July 20, 2023, after being arrested on March 21st and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in May. The feds allege Green intentionally ignited the building on May 25, 2022 – nearly a year before her arrest – causing substantial damage and delaying access to critical medical care for the community.

The Wellspring clinic represented a much-needed resource in a state with limited access to reproductive and gender-affirming healthcare. Its destruction wasn’t just about bricks and mortar; it was a direct assault on the rights of individuals seeking medical attention. Investigators haven’t publicly detailed the evidence linking Green to the arson, but the guilty plea suggests a strong case built by the Casper Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the FBI.

Green now faces a minimum mandatory sentence of five years in federal prison, with a potential maximum of 20 years. She’s also looking at a potential $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, a $100 special assessment, and a hefty restitution bill to cover the damages. Sentencing is scheduled for October 6, 2023, where Judge Johnson will consider U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The circumstances surrounding this case raise serious questions about escalating threats to healthcare providers. While authorities haven’t explicitly labeled this a hate crime or domestic terrorism, the targeting of a clinic offering abortion and gender-affirming care fits a disturbing pattern observed across the country. The feds are likely to scrutinize Green’s motives and any potential connections to extremist groups.

Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it moves toward sentencing. Case number is 23-CR-00066. For media inquiries, contact the Public Information Officer for the District of Wyoming at the Cheyenne Headquarters. This isn’t just a crime against a building; it’s a crime against access to healthcare, and the community deserves answers.