Stephen arrested on child porn charges

     A month after search warrants were served on properties owned by Greg Stephen in both Monticello and Lake Delhi, Stephen has now been arrested on felony charges for knowingly transporting child pornography across state lines.

     Stephen was arrested by the FBI on March 13. A preliminary hearing was set for that date at 3 p.m. Stephen waived that hearing.

     A detention hearing was then set for March 15 at 2 p.m. However, Stephen’s defense lawyer sought to change that hearing to March 21 at 1 p.m. to allow a medical doctor to testify as a witness at the detention hearing.

     Stephen, 42 of Monticello, is the co-founder of the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Iowa Barnstormers youth basketball organization. Players range in age from fifth through 12^th grade.

     The criminal complaint filed by Iowa DCI (Division of Criminal Investigation) Special Agent Ryan Kedley was unsealed on March 13. It explains that it is “unlawful for any person to knowingly transport… interstate commerce by any means any visual depiction if the producing of such visual depiction involved the use of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct and such visual depiction is of such sexually explicit conduct.”

     The criminal complaint provides the timeline of events the led to Stephen’s arrest and charges.

     On Feb. 18, Monticello Police Chief Britt Smith was contacted by Stephen’s former brother-in-law who was hired to do some renovations on Stephen’s home in Monticello. The relative informed Smith that he had in his possession a USB recording device that was found in Stephen’s bathroom. The contractor was inside Stephen’s home prior to locating the recording device and took it home to view the recordings on his own computer. He observed what appeared to be teenage boys in hotel bathrooms, disrobing and entering/exiting the bathroom shower.

     The footage found on the recording device was organized by digital file folders with names of boys.

     After hearing from the brother-in-law, Smith instructed him to turn the recording device over to the local law enforcement authorities. The Monticello Police Department took possession of the device on Feb. 19. It was subsequently turned over to Iowa DCI on Feb. 21.

     Also on that date, DCI received a search warrant for both of Stephen’s properties, as well as his vehicles, and the Stephen Motors business in Monticello. Thirty-four items were removed, including: multiple computers/laptops, cell phones, hard drives, security cameras, and additional USB recording devices.

     On that same date, DCI agents spoke with Stephen at Stephen Motors regarding the search. Stephen said he made the recordings found on the device to look at the development of the kids and how they were growing, evaluating adolescent growth and development.

     The three file folders found on the recording device were named from current Barnstormers players, ages 12, 13, and 14. More than 100 video clips were found stored on the device.

     In regards to the footage at a hotel out of state, Stephen told the DCI agents that he and the three boys were attending a Chicago Bulls game in Chicago. They were also in Des Moines for a basketball game.

     To the boys’ knowledge, they were not aware of the recording device that was plugged into an outlet in the bathrooms at these hotels.

     Stephen never made any sexual advances toward any of his players, former or current.

     Law enforcement has met with the parents of the three boys identified on the device.

     Stephen has since been removed from the Barnstormers organization.