Polygamist's Son Headed to Jail in Utah

Associated Press/July 10, 2007

West Jordan, Utah -- A judge sentenced the son of an imprisoned Utah polygamist to 180 days in jail Tuesday for having sex with a 13-year-old girl he met on the Internet site MySpace.

William Green, 19, must avoid pornography, stay out of Internet chat rooms and pay a $500 fine, 3rd District Court Judge Royal Hansen said.

''He's a remorseful kid,'' said his attorney, David Leavitt. ''He's married and has full-time work. I think you'll see this is a blip on the radar screen.''

Green was charged with rape but pleaded guilty in May to two counts of misdemeanor sexual battery.

His father, Tom Green, 58, went to prison in 2001 for having sex with a 13-year-old girl when he was 37. The girl was the first of five women he took as wives. He also was convicted of bigamy and of criminal non-support for the thousands of dollars in state payments made to support his 32 children. He is scheduled to be released Aug. 7.

Leavitt, who had prosecuted Tom Green, said William Green was a victim because he grew up in an environment where there was no sensitivity to age-appropriate sex.