A Steuben County jury has convicted 51-year-old Matthew Kapp of Howard on six counts of first-degree rape, each a Class B violent felony, and six counts of coercion, each a Class E felony.
Prosecutors said Kapp forcibly raped a woman on six occasions between 2015 and 2019 in the town of Avoca, and used threats of rape against others to coerce her into sexual activity. The jury reached its verdict after nearly eight hours of deliberations following a four-day trial.
Kapp was immediately remanded to Steuben County Jail without bail. He is scheduled to be sentenced in October and faces up to 25 years in prison on each rape count.
District Attorney Brooks Baker praised the victim for her courage and commended law enforcement for their persistence. Baker noted that the case, which began in 2020, faced challenges from early criminal justice reform laws and COVID-related court delays. Despite these hurdles, investigators with the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office gathered additional evidence to secure the convictions.
Baker said, “The proof at trial demonstrated the defendant engaged in a pattern of violent and controlling behavior. Though nothing can undo what he has done, I hope this verdict and removal of the threat allows the victim to continue healing and move forward with her life.”
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