Porn addict’s bid for parole rejected
A reformed offender who once compared his child sex abuse image addiction to stamp collecting has been denied parole for a second time.
In July 2016, Donald Mathew Capon was jailed for 41⁄2 years after being found in possession of 382,025 images, 17,127 videos and 1690 compressed files of children either partially dressed, naked or engaged in sex acts.
The former teacher, from New Plymouth, was apprehended after a tip off from authorities in the United States about Capon’s online activities, namely sharing explicit images of children.
When interviewed by New Zealand Customs Service officials, Capon said he collected child sex abuse images and had been addicted to porn since 2002.
In December, Capon, now 53, appeared before the Parole Board for the second time. His first bid for release in January, 2018, was rejected.
The report, completed after a hearing at Upper Hutt’s Rimutaka Prison, stated that Capon had completed a child sex offender programme.
‘‘He is reported as having found the programme difficult but happy with the progress that he made.’’
A psychological report completed on Capon was also positive and advised the board the inmate had addressed his sexual offending, had developed a safety plan and was seen as low-risk of repeat behaviour.
Another development revealed in the parole report was a change in how Capon viewed his offending.
‘‘While he was offending he considered that the victims were merely actors.
‘‘He realises that he was lying to himself and they were not actors. Lying to himself, he thought that merely watching videos was in no way as serious as those who committed the crimes. Seeing himself as merely a voyeur was a lie.’’
While classified as a minimum security risk, it had not been a completely trouble-free time for Capon behind bars. The parole report outlined how he had chalked up a misconduct after he took chicken from the kitchen, which cost him his job there.
‘‘His decision to remove food was a lapse in judgment but he described being unhappy working in the kitchen. He knew that he would lose his job as a result,’’ the report said.
The major sticking point regarding Capon’s release on parole is where he will live when he gets out of prison.
While an accommodation option had been floated for Capon in the community, at an undisclosed address, a bed had yet to be confirmed.
Under those circumstances, Capon was still deemed an undue risk so his parole was denied. He will be considered for release again in March.