Mateo Melina Nixon, 37, was sentenced to 13 years in prison when he appeared in Dunedin court in August 2015 on a slew of charges, but was released this week on parole with several years left of his sentence.
The sex offender hunted down some of his victims through his involvement in outdoor dance events around the South Island between October 2009 and July 2012.
At the time of sentencing, the court learned that many of the women had been friends with his then-girlfriend and he assaulted them while they were asleep or under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Nixon was denied parole in January and failed to request a review of the board’s decision in March.
This month, his defense counsel Michael Bott emphasized that the Otago Corrections Facility inmate had engaged psychological services and had a successful assisted release under his belt.
There was also a “comprehensive security plan,” he said.
Nixon had not been found suitable for the specialized adult sex offender program, but had instead completed individual therapy.
“This helped him understand how his life experience had affected him and shaped the way he had developed. It helped him understand why he adopted a lifestyle that was not good for him or the people around him and the reasons for it and the resulting decisions that led to the crime,” said panel chair Serina Bailey.
“He spoke very clearly and eloquently regarding these matters.”
Nixon had a lot of support in the community, the board heard.
One woman described how proud she had been of his progress and how he had become “much more communicative and analytical.”
Under conditions of Nixon’s parole were:
– To live at an address approved by the Probation Service
– Submit to electronic monitoring
– Adhere to a curfew from 10pm to 6am
– No contact with young people under 16
– Don’t go to a nightclub, festival, concert or rave
– No contacting victims
– Do not possess alcohol or illegal drugs
– To attend treatment as prescribed by Probation Service
– Informing probation about changes in employment
– To inform probation about changes in relationship status