Judge rejects appeal of inmate who distributed child pornography

Does a man who distributed child pornography that features numerous terrible acts against children deserve “a compassionate release.” That was the question U.S. District Court Judge Brian C. Wines faced when looking at the case of 30-year-old Carl Junction resident Brian C Ellis. In a motion filed on July 20th, Ellis acted as his own attorney and argued for compassionate relief due to covid-19.

Published sources said, “Ellis claimed he and other prisoners were not receiving enough soap and personal hygiene supplies and said the ‘current regime’ at his prison were being treated with ‘cruel and unusual standards’ which put them all at risk of contracting COVID-19.“ Also stated was, “Ellis said if the judge released him, he would live with his parents in Carl Junction and would take online courses in culinary arts and business management and that he hoped to do volunteer work for the Humane Society.”

A ruling issued on October 28th by Judge Wines rejected the appeal of Ellis. Wines said Ellis, “failed to show extraordinary and compelling reasons to support his request for compassionate release.”