KANSAS CITY, KAN. - A former civilian hospital employee was sentenced today to the statutory maximum of 20 years in federal prison plus 3 years of supervised release for attacking a woman whom he set on fire, U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said. In addition the Defendant was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $3,464,965.80 to the victim, Lieutenant Katie Ann Blanchard.
In August, a jury found Clifford Currie, 55, Leavenworth, Kan., guilty of one count of assault with intent to commit murder.
During trial, prosecutors presented evidence that on Sept. 7, 2016, Currie threw gasoline or some other inflammable liquid on his supervisor, Katie Ann Blanchard, lit her on fire and assaulted her with a straight edge razor and scissors. A co-worker came to Blanchard’s aid when she heard screams and saw Blanchard on fire from the chest up. Currie was subdued by hospital employees and then arrested
Beall commended the FBI, the U.S. Army Military Police, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Flannigan and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James Ward for their work on the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
