Sex abuse charges dismissed against Bountiful coach

Based on evidence provided by the defense, criminal charges were dismissed Tuesday against a Bountiful man accused of having a sexual relationship with a 13-year-old girl who played on his soccer team.

Thirteen first-degree felony charges were dismissed Tuesday against 42-year-old Steven Dale Green — including charges of rape, rape of a child, object rape of a child, aggravated sexual abuse of a child and forcible sodomy.

Green's attorney, Greg Law, said Tuesday afternoon that the case was dismissed after the defense provided evidence to prosecutors that showed there was no way the girl ever had sex with Green.

"The bottom line is it became glaringly apparent that their witness never had a sexual relationship with my client," Law said. "...That girl has never seen my guy naked."

Law said the girl, who is now 18, testified about a "very specific detail" at a preliminary hearing last year, where a judge ordered the man to stand trial for the crimes.

"After the bindover, we went on the offense," Law said. "We provided exculpatory evidence to the state that completely undermines [the girl's testimony.]"

Deputy Davis County Attorney Cristina Ortega said Tuesday that she decided to dismiss the case because she didn't feel there was a "reasonable likelihood" that there would be a conviction at trial.

She said the girl's family was frustrated about the dismissal.

"I felt I could not pursue the case any further," Ortega said. "There was some frustration, but they were informed of the reason why."

Law said Green is "thrilled" with the dismissal, adding that he and his wife had been through a lot in the last 14 months, including the loss of his job after the charges were filed.

"Justice was served today," Law said.

The girl testified last July at a preliminary hearing that she met Green while playing in a soccer club when she was 12 years old. She said their relationship turned sexual in 2008 when she was 13.

The girl testified that the two had sex almost daily from 2008-2011, with most of the alleged encounters taking place at Green's home.

The two would often have sex in an upstairs loft, the girl testified, and on several occasions they had intercourse on Green's kitchen island, which the girl said Green referred to as his "altar of sin."

The teen testified that the police were notified of the alleged affair after her grandmother found a condom in her room and asked about her sexual history. She told her grandmother that she lost her virginity at 13, she testified, then eventually told her about the alleged relationship with Green.

The girl's family notified police, and Green was arrested in February 2013 by Bountiful police at the South Davis Recreation Center.

No trial date had been set in the case.

Law said he doesn't know if there will be any repercussions for the girl, but said his client will not try to sue the girl for defamation because it is unlikely that she would be able to pay a judgment.

"Even if you get a judgment, it's a hollow victory," Law said.

jmiller@sltrib.com

Twitter: @jm_miller