Columbia Man Sentenced to 18 Years for Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

SPRINGFIELD, MO—Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Columbia, Missouri man was sentenced in federal court today for attempting to sexually exploit a minor by manufacturing child pornography.

John Steven Green, 28, of Columbia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard E. Dorr to 18 years and four months in federal prison without parole.

Green, who pleaded guilty on Oct. 19, 2010, admitted that he engaged in Internet chat conversations with a person he believed to be a 13-year-old girl named Candy, who lived in Carthage, Missouri, between April 22, 2008, to May 23, 2008. In reality, “Candy” was a detective with the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department who was conducting an undercover operation. In the chat discussions, Green described his desire to meet Candy and have sex with her. Green also described how he would like to film their sexual encounter. On three occasions, Green transmitted nude images of himself; he also encouraged Candy to purchase a webcam so she could send similar images of herself to him.

On May 23, 2008, Green traveled to Carthage to meet Candy at a motel, where he was arrested. Green had a webcam that he intended to use to record the sexual encounter, and another webcam that he intended to give to Candy to use during future online chats. Law enforcement officers also seized Green’s laptop computer from the motel room. A forensic examination of the computer found that Green had 19 videos of child pornography and 116 images of child pornography saved on the computer.

Green has a prior state conviction for child endangerment as a result of contacting a 16-year-old minor over the Internet and meeting her to have sex at his residence. Green, who was 21 years old at the time, received a suspended imposition of sentence and two years of probation for that offense.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Randall D. Eggert. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Jasper County (Missouri) Sheriff’s Department, the Columbia (Missouri) Police Department and the Alma (Michigan) Police Department.

Project Safe Childhood

This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.