Ron Welch
Muskingum County Prosecutor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, February 26, 2026
Penis Piercing Leads to 6 Year Prison Term for Man in Child Sexual Abuse Material Case
ZANESVILLE, OH –
Last month a Muskingum County Jury convened to hear the case of Daniel Greene, AKA Daniel Smeck, 29, who stood accused of one count Pandering Involving a Minor and two counts of Kidnapping.
The Jury found Greene guilty of Pandering Obscenity Involving a Minor, by taking a picture of himself with his penis pressed up against the minor while lying in a bed.
Judge Kelly Cottrill granted the defense attorney’s request to dismiss the two counts of Kidnapping. A Judge can dismiss a charge if he or she determines that there is not enough evidence to convict a person of the crime for which they are accused.
Prior to the Court dismissing the Kidnapping charges, Greene faced potentially up to 30 years in prison.
On February 23, 2026, Daniel A. Greene appeared before Judge Cottrill in the Muskingum Court of Common Pleas to be sentenced for the one count of Pandering Involving a Minor.
The State, represented by Assistant Prosecutor Michael Hughes, argued for the maximum sentence of an eight (8) year prison sentence.
After hearing arguments from the State, the Defense, and giving the defendant an opportunity to speak, Judge Cottrill sentenced Greene to six (6) years in prison. Greene was also ordered to register as a Tier 2 sex offender. As a Tier 2 sex offender Greene is required to register every six months for twenty-five years. Once released from prison Greene will also be on post release control for a period of five years.
Details of the Case:
In 2023 a law enforcement investigation resulted in the recovery of a cell phone containing an image of an adult male penis pressed up against the buttocks of a minor male child.
As part of the investigation involving both Zanesville Police Department and the Muskingum County Sheriff’s Department, a forensic examination was conducted on the cell phone. During this investigation law enforcement was able to determine the adult male in the photo as the defendant due to a variety of evidence. That evidence included a penis piercing, a hand tattoo, digital data, and eyewitness testimony regarding other distinct physical characteristics.
At the time the photo was taken the child was reportedly left alone with Daniel Greene. Daniel Greene had accompanied Justin Brown in traveling to Columbus to get the child for a ‘weekend camping trip’. Brown, who is currently serving 8-12 years in prison, on his own Pandering case, left Greene and the child alone for several hours. Upon returning, Brown reported that the child was found sick and lethargic.
During interviews the child reported the men never took him camping and they never left the house. The child described being given a diet mountain dew that tasted funny and then he became ill.
The child was kept out of school and denied contact with his guardian during the time he was with Greene and Brown.
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