Judge denies compassionate release due to COVID-19 for prisoner who planned to rape 13-year-old Carthage girl, make video

An irregular heartbeat, lack of an appendix and fear of COVID-19 were not enough to convince a federal judge that a prisoner who is only halfway through an 18-year sentence for sexual exploitation of a child is deserving of compassionate release.

Nor did Judge Douglas Harpool opt for the reduced sentence alternative proposed by John Steven Green, 36.

In his order, filed today in U. S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Harpool said, "Defendant has not established that his condition is so extraordinary or compelling that he should be immediately released.

Green claimed his good behavior, as well as his health issues, including that 2008 removal of his appendix should make him a prime candidate for compassionate release.

Green's crime was detailed in the plea agreement he reached with the U. S. Attorney's office nine years ago, which included dropping numerous child pornography charges in exchange for his plea.

Green, whose online name was "sexy midmo man" was ready for action when he arrived at a Carthage motel on May 23, 2008.

Before he left his Columbia home to meet the 13-year-old girl he had been grooming on the internet, Green loaded his car with computers, camera equipment and eight condoms.

Green, 24, started chatting with Candy a month earlier. As the talks continued, he told her he wanted to meet her, have sex with her and make videos.

During three of the conversations, he exposed himself and performed a sexual act. He tried to convince Candy to buy a webcam and send similar images. He finally wore Candy down and she agreed to meet with him.

Green was a bit disappointed when he discovered the Candy he had eagerly anticipated sampling was Detective Ed Bailey of the Jasper County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies arrested Green, who admitted to his crimes. A search of the laptop he brought with him revealed 19 videos and 116 photographs containing child pornography, including one of an adult raping a child who appeared to be 1-2 years old. Some contained violent imagery.

The arrest was not the first for Green who had been placed on probation after receiving a suspended sentence in 2005 after arranging to meet with a 16-year-old girl at his Columbia home to have sex. Green, who was 21 at the time, was charged with a misdemeanor, child endangerment in the second degree.