Former superior court judge sentenced for 2019 sex crime against a 14-year-old boy

CATAWBA COUNTY, N.C. — A former Catawba County superior court judge has been sentenced for a sex crime against a child after officers arrested him in 2019 at a hotel near the Biltmore House.

Former Catawba County Superior Court Judge Daniel Ray Green, 67, was sentenced Thursday to serve nearly two years in prison to be followed by supervised probation after pleading guilty to felony indecent liberties with a minor and other crimes.

According to police reports, officers were called to the Baymont Inn, a hotel near Asheville, in March 2019 for a sexual assault of a 14-year-old child.

Investigators said Green gave alcohol to the child, showed him pornography, and performed a sex act. The child escaped by pretending he needed to get ice from the machine outside the hotel room. Once outside, he texted a close friend and called his mother, who then called the police.

Green was arrested and charged with indecent liberties with a minor, disseminating obscene material to a minor, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor along with providing alcohol to someone under 21.

He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a 20-33 month active sentence, a 6-8 month sentence suspended for 36 months, 45 days active sentence (consecutive) and another 45 days active sentence (consecutive) respectively.

“The outcome of this case demonstrates that Judge Daniel Ray Green was not protected by his privilege,” said District Attorney Todd Williams. “He is being held accountable for his acts thanks foremost to the courage of the survivor in disclosing these traumatic crimes. I wish the young survivor peace and healing. Further, I commend the survivor’s family for supporting him throughout the prosecution and applaud APD’s coordinated and effective investigatory work in tandem with partners at the Mountain Child Advocacy Center, which was indispensable.”

After Green’s prison sentence is complete, he is also sentenced to serve an additional 6-8 months on supervised probation. As part of his probation, Green will pay restitution of $3,715 for the victim’s medical expenses. He will also be required to register as a sex offender for 30 years.

A judge also ordered that Green be permanently disbarred from practicing law.

According to the district attorney, the victim’s parents and other family were present in court in support of the victim during the sentencing hearing and approved of the result.

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