Youth coach gets 180-year prison sentence for sexual crimes against children

Yesterday, in a Des Moines courtroom, Gregory Scott Stephen, 43, of Monticello, Iowa, was sentenced to 180 years in federal prison for crimes he committed against approximately 400 children. Following his plea deal, Stephen pleaded guilty in October 2018 to five counts of sexual exploitation of a child, one count of possession of child pornography, and one count of transportation of child pornography.

At his sentencing hearing, Judge C.J. Williams remarked that Stephen, “is a hands-on sexual abuser of children” who “exploited, manipulated, and abused children for almost two decades.” According to the judge, Stephen’s crime was “horrendous;” and the harm he caused his victims was “incalculable and profound.”

Stephen was the former co-director of Barnstormers Basketball of Iowa. The Barnstormers operate youth basketball teams for athletes between fourth and twelfth grades. In addition to his administrative duties, Stephen also coached Barnstormer players.

United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum said that “the defendant exploited boys who looked up to him as a coach and mentor.”

“He had power over these kids, and he exploited that power. The sentence imposed today reflects the enormity of his crimes.” Krickbaum continued, “I want to thank the law enforcement officers and advocates who worked with the victims and their families. Most importantly, thank you to the victims who came forward to tell your stories. Your courage is inspiring.”

According to court papers, Stephen violated over 400 minor victims in a multitude of ways. He secretly recorded victims while they were nude, tricked victims into sending Stephen sexually explicit images and videos by impersonating a minor female online, and photographed victims’ genitals while the victims slept, and in some cases, photographed himself touching the victims’ genitals.

In a plea agreement, Stephen admitted that he pretended to be young girls online to convince minor boys to send sexually explicit images of themselves, according to Krickbaum.

While pretending to be a teenage girl, Stephen would contact minor boys and offer to exchange nude pictures, the statement said.  He “suggested the type of sexually explicit images the minor males should produce.”  ~ per WQAD News 8

His 180-year federal prison sentence is the maximum statutory penalty allowable under the law.  

(Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Iowa)

~ Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Connect with Richard on Facebook and Twitter