Casper woman who set fire to Wyo abortion clinic pleads not guilty

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — A Casper woman who set fire to a building that was set to become the only full-service abortion clinic in Wyoming in May 2022 pleaded not guilty to an arson charge in a federal court on Friday.

Lorna Roxanne Green, 22, was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kelly H. Rankin. A jury trial has been set for July 24, before U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson.

According to court documents, Green told investigators that she is opposed to abortion and the opening of Wellspring Health Access in Casper gave her anxiety and nightmares which prompted her to burn it.

If convicted, Green faces a minimum of five years and up to 20 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

This crime is being investigated by the Casper Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

"An indictment merely contains allegations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty," said a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Caroline Chapman is a Community News Reporter. She's a lover of alliteration, easy-to-follow recipes and board games when everyone knows the rules. Her favorite aspect about living in the Tetons is the collective admiration that Wyomingites share for the land and the life that it sustains.