UTAH STATE PRISON — When polygamist Tom Green leaves here today, he wants to slip into a life of anonymity.
"My intention is to live a private, quiet life, taking care of my family and not talking to the media," Green said in a statement released by the Utah Department of Corrections.
In fact, corrections officials said they will take steps today to ensure that Green is not released from prison in a media glare.
"He's not walking out the door at the same time as the others on release day," corrections spokesman Jack Ford said.
That's at Green's request, Ford said. It's an about-face from a man who lived his life in a public spotlight, appearing on TV talk shows from "Phil Donahue" to "Judge Judy." It was Green's many TV appearances that brought him to Juab County Attorney David Leavitt's attention — and prosecution.
Now, six years after he was convicted of child rape, bigamy and criminal non-support, Green will be free. There are terms for his release. He will have to pay $34,420 in restitution to the state for supporting his large family. Green will also have to complete mental health therapy and have no contact with a former wife. An exception may be the children he has with her.
At the time he went to prison, Green had five wives. Now, he has four. One left and spoke out against him at Green's parole hearing last month.
"He still views himself as a religious leader, and he views his flock as his children," she said.
Green has more than 30 children and now, grandchildren. One of his sons held up an infant for him to see as he left the parole hearing room.
When Green returns to his family, his living arrangements will be monitored. Questions were raised by Adult Probation and Parole agents about Green's home. While he will be living with his legal wife, Linda, whom he married when she was 13. His other "wives" live in attached homes.
"We've approved the site that he's going to live in," Ford said. "As far as having relationships with his non-official wives, they've resolved whatever the issue was."
The parole board questioned whether the state has any business in whom Green sleeps with but said if AP&P agents perceived any violations, they could seek a warrant to have the polygamist returned to prison.
E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com