HPD computer analyst avoids jail time for porn

Richard Rapozo downloaded thousands of images and movie clips onto his work computers

A former Honolulu police computer analyst will not face jail time for downloading thousands of pornographic images and movie clips onto his work computers.

Circuit Judge Richard Perkins granted Richard Rapozo's request yesterday to defer for five years his guilty pleas to four counts of unauthorized computer access, but ordered him to perform 150 hours of community service.

Rapozo lost his job of five years after being charged, and apologized yesterday to his wife, family and friends for his poor judgment and for letting them down.

Defense attorney Scott Collins had argued that Rapozo led a law-abiding life for 66 years until the matter surfaced in 2005.

Collins cited numerous letters from family and former co-workers who characterized Rapozo as someone they respected highly, looked up to and could rely on. He cared for his widowed mother and disabled brother until their deaths a few years ago.

Perkins found that Rapozo was not likely to engage in criminal behavior and that he has been actively employed and invaluable as a caregiver for various family members.

Perkins also acknowledged that Rapozo has lost his job and suffered a great deal of embarrassment. But the judge said he was troubled by the discrepancy between the information provided in the case and Rapozo's representations that he had not been given a clear warning by his police supervisors.

Deputy Prosecutor Chris Van Marter argued that Rapozo had been warned by his superiors, who seized his computers in 2004 and assigned him new ones following a complaint by a co-worker who had witnessed Rapozo viewing pornographic images at work. But after a second similar complaint against Rapozo, investigators searched and found 6,000 pornographic images and 3,000 pornographic movie clips he had downloaded onto his computers.

Van Marter recommended probation and strongly objected to a deferral, arguing that it minimized the seriousness and the continuing nature of Rapozo's conduct.

"We're not talking about an isolated event," he said. "He didn't download (the images) in a matter of minutes, and he was using city resources on city time."

City employees can only use their work computers for official city business, according to the Department of Information Technology's Internet policies and guidelines. Prohibited activities include downloading and storing pornographic materials, online gambling and conducting private business.