Day in court
A man who went on a crusade against men he believes want to meet minors for sex is accused of inciting violence and causing harm.
A man who went on a vigilante crusade against men he believes want to meet minors for sex is accused of inciting violence and causing harm through digital communications.
Connor William Bevins, 20, appeared in the Palmerston North District Court yesterday.
He faces five charges under the Harmful Digital Communications Act, alleging he posted videos online with intent to cause harm against five different people in Palmerston North and Taupo¯ .
Police also allege he threatened to cause grievous bodily harm to one of the people allegedly harmed by a video. He is also accused of unlawfully getting on a car owned by a different person who police say was harmed by a video, and acting in a way likely to cause violence to start in The Square, Palmerston North.
He is also charged with twice breaching a protection order – once by following a woman, and again by sending her correspondence via Instagram. He pleaded guilty to one breach of a protection order, but not guilty to the other.
Bevins came to notoriety after copying the actions of a ‘‘creep catchers’’ group overseas that use dating apps to lure men to public places, then accuse them on camera of wanting to meet a minor for sexual activity.
Judge Lance Rowe bailed Bevins until May, and suppressed the names of the people allegedly harmed by the videos.
As part of his bail, Bevins is banned from social media, uploading files to or accessing the internet, possessing an internetcapable device, contacting people in the videos, or going into the Palmerston North alcohol-ban area.