Liberty County woman sentenced to prison after attacking Fort Stewart medical staff

SAVANNAH, GA: A Liberty County woman was sentenced to federal prison after her conviction at trial for attacking medical professionals at Fort Stewart.

Christie F. Oxendine, 35, of Hinesville, Ga., was sentenced to 16 months in prison after being found guilty of Obstructing and Hindering Emergency Professionals, along with misdemeanor counts of simple battery and disorderly conduct, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Chief Judge R. Stan Baker also ordered Oxendine to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of her prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

"While family members and patients will occasionally disagree on standards of care in medical facilities, it is inexcusable to physically attack and disrupt the work of health care professionals," said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. "This sentence of incarceration makes clear that violent and abusive behavior will not be tolerated."

As described at trial, Oxendine brought her minor child to the Winn Army Community Hospital at Fort Stewart for treatment. Despite not having any medical training, Oxendine demanded that medical staff perform specific procedures during that treatment even though those procedures were not medically recommended, not part of the standard of care, and potentially more dangerous for her child. Oxendine became verbally and physically abusive when staff members attempted to continue treatment.

Oxendine unhooked her minor child from medical equipment and began forcibly removing her from the hospital, and as staff members attempted to prevent Oxendine's exit she shoved one pregnant nurse and pushed another into a wall while yelling at them and using profane language. Military police officers later removed the child from Oxendine's vehicle for continued treatment, and Oxendine was banned from the facility.

Oxendine was convicted after a two-day trial in April on all counts. She is ordered to report for incarceration to an assigned Bureau of Prisons facility by Sept. 23.

The case was investigated by the Department of the Army Criminal Investigations Division and Military Police, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew A. Josephson and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Z. Spitulnik.