CHEYENNE, Wyo. — In a recent court ruling, a woman who set fire to Wyoming’s only full-service abortion clinic has been ordered to pay nearly $300,000 in restitution, matching the full amount sought by prosecutors.
Lorna Green, a 22-year-old mechanical engineering student, is currently serving a five-year prison sentence for her arson attack on Wellspring Health Access. The attack occurred just weeks before the clinic was scheduled to open in Casper in 2022. The fire significantly damaged the building while it was undergoing renovations, ultimately delaying its opening by almost a year.
As of April 2023, Wellspring Health Access stands as the sole abortion clinic in Wyoming. The Jackson clinic, which provided pill abortions, had to close its doors on December 15, 2022, citing escalating operational costs.
U.S. District Judge Alan Johnson’s recent ruling orders Green to pay approximately $298,000 in restitution. This sum includes $240,000 to Nationwide General Insurance Company, the insurer for the clinic. Additionally, Green is obligated to pay $33,500 to Christine Lichtenfels, the owner of the building housing the clinic, and $24,500 to Julie Burkhart, founder and president of Wellspring Health Access.
Julie Burkhart expressed her satisfaction with the court’s decision on restitution. “Not only did we have to endure the emotional trauma of the arson, but it also posed significant financial challenges for us. I’m relieved that this chapter is now closed,” she stated.
The restitution amount mirrors the figures initially sought by prosecutors and faced no opposition from Green’s attorney, Ryan Semerad. In an emailed statement, Semerad conveyed Green’s hopes for a productive and peaceful life following her term of incarceration.
Green has previously expressed remorse for her actions, attributing her crime to anxiety and nightmares regarding the clinic’s planned opening. Despite her lack of previous anti-abortion sentiments on social media, Green admitted to opposing abortion. She drove from Laramie to Casper, broke into the clinic, and ignited gasoline she had poured into trays and splashed onto the floor. After months with minimal progress, an increased reward of $15,000 for information led to Green’s arrest in March.
In June, Green pleaded guilty to arson, ultimately receiving the minimum prison sentence in September, which was five years. Originally, she had faced the possibility of up to 20 years in prison.
It’s noteworthy that Green’s arson attack coincided with new Wyoming laws seeking to restrict abortion in nearly all cases. These laws, including the nation’s first explicit ban on abortion pills, have been temporarily suspended pending a lawsuit filed by four women and two nonprofits, including Wellspring Health Access. Wyoming District Judge Melissa Owens heard arguments in the lawsuit on December 14 and is now considering whether to make a ruling. Her decision is likely to be appealed, which would bring Wyoming’s abortion laws before the state Supreme Court.
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