A Liberty County woman has been sentenced to 16 months in prison following a disruptive encounter at Fort Stewart's Winn Army Community Hospital. Christie F. Oxendine, a 35-year-old from Hinesville, GA, attacked medical staff and now faces additional consequences beyond her prison time, including three years of supervised release, according to U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia Jill E. Steinberg. The case against Oxendine, led by the Department of the Army Criminal Investigations Division alongside Military Police, was prosecuted by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew A. Josephson and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Z. Spitulnik.
Demanding unadvised medical actions for her child, who was in treatment, Oxendine became hostile upon medical staff's refusal. During the incident, she disengaged her minor child from medical equipment in an attempt to leave, clashing physically with staff, an act which included shoving a pregnant nurse and pushing another staff member against a wall. Oxendine, who is now banned from the hospital, must report for incarceration by September 23, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Georgia.
Oxendine's trial, which spanned over two days in April, culminated in a conviction on all charges, including Obstructing and Hindering Emergency Professionals, among others. "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 in the information provided by the U.S. Attorney's Office. "This sentence of incarceration makes clear that violent and abusive behavior will not be tolerated."
Oxendine's actions prevented medical professionals from doing their jobs, potentially putting her child's health at risk and disrupting hospital operations. The case sets a strong precedent, demonstrating a no-tolerance policy for such disruptions. Military police later intervened to remove the child from Oxendine's vehicle, ensuring proper medical care could continue.
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