Judge tells Joplin man serving time on child porn charge, COVID-19 not a get-out-of-jail-free card for you

A federal judge today rejected a Joplin man's motion to be released early from prison because he has health problems and is concerned about COVID-19.

Richard Thuerauf, 51, served as his own attorney when he filed a 20-page motion May 4 asking for his release. The warden at the Seagoville, Texas minimum security prison where Thuerauf is serving his sentence for receiving and distributing child pornography had already rejected the idea.

Thuerauf is not eligible for release until April 2023.

In her ruling, Judge Beth Phillips said Thuerauf's sleep apnea and high blood pressure are under control with medication and that the guidelines also require her to take into consideration the nature o the crime he committed.

Phillips said she had taken Thuerauf's medical condition into consideration when she initially sentenced him in January 2019  and "the factors justifying Defendant’s sentence have not changed in the interim."

The only new consideration is the risk associated with COVID-19, and as explained above the risk that Defendant faces is very low. His circumstances are not 'extraordinary and compelling,' so his motion for compassionate release is denied."