Former Salvation Army Official Sentenced to Prison for Viewing Child Porn

Last week I watched a family weep as their father and husband was sentenced to prison for watching child porn. Here is an account of what happened, most of which has been published in the Ponca City News.

A man that dedicated over 30 years to the Salvation Army was sentenced to 29 years in the Oklahoma Department of Corrections on 19 felony counts of downloading child pornography by Kay County District Judge Leslie Page.

60-year-old Donald Warren Harris turned himself in on Sept. 4 after authorities discovered hundreds of child pornography files on his work computer including footage of toddlers being abused.

Harris pleaded guilty to the charges on Feb. 24.

Before being sentenced, Harris and his wife Mary Sue took the stand and pleaded for mercy, justice and probation.

Mary Sue told the court that her and her husband spent decades helping people across the nation recover from natural disasters including Hurricane Katrina.

She recounted the timeline of the couple's relationship and life together.

"I never knew love until I met him," she said.

She described him as a caring sensitive person that never did drugs and had not touched a drink since 1972.

She then spoke of how difficult life has been since the arrest.

"Life has been very very hard and I'll do anything the court suggests, I just need him," she said with tears streaming down her cheeks.

She told the court that she believes her husband has learned his lesson and that the couple would disconnect the Internet at home if he were giving probation.

Kay County District Attorney Mark Gibson cross examined Mary Sue and asked her what her reaction was when she found out what her husband had been doing.

"I was shocked upset and mad," she said. "But I'm not mad anymore. I was mad a day and then I put it in God's hands.

She said she was never aware of her husband's obsession with child pornography, adult porn and bestiality.

Gibson said he didn't doubt the good things the couple accomplished through the years.

"But if he cares about people, how much do you think he cared about those babies being raped in the videos," Gibson asked.

Mary Sue said that after learning that her husband was going to be arrested, the couple prayed for the children, and for this type of activity to stop.

She referred to the arrest of her husband as a God's drastic way of curing him.

Don Harris then took the stand and said that he believes the eight months he has spent in the county jail is punishment enough and that he needs treatment.

He told the court that he pleaded guilty to the charges because he is.

"After being caught I realized I had an addiction and I sought treatment," he said. "I worked through a 12 step Bible workbook and I'm willing to do whatever it takes to cure my addiction."

Harris' attorney Will Clark told the court that Harris is an example of a good person doing a bad thing.

"An addiction got him into this dilemma," said Clark.

Harris admitted that he has been viewing pornography and bestiality for 20 years on an average of four to six hours a day and that he hid it from his wife of 36 years.

He said about 10 percent of the porn that he viewed was child porn.

Clark asked him to explain why he would watch child porn.

"It's hard to explain," said Harris. "It's just that I was addicted to porn in general and I accidentally came across it, got curious and downloaded it. It was different and I was looking for another high."

"Have you ever harmed a child?" asked Clark. "No sir," replied Harris.

Clark told Harris that the pre-sentencing report indicates that he does not show remorse for his crime.

"That's not true," replied Harris with a shaky voice. "I am remorseful. I don't know where that comes from, but I am remorseful and I hate what I have done. I blame no one but myself and I'm not going to play victim. No one forced me to download it."

Harris told the court that he would probably still be viewing porn had he not been caught.

He then apologized to his family, the community and the Salvation Army.

District Attorney Mark Gibson asked Harris if he would have admitted his problem to anyone if he had been confronted.

"It depends on who would have asked," said Harris.

He then told the court that he downloaded the child porn out of curiosity.

"You were curious a thousand times over?" asked Gibson.

"Yes," replied Harris.

Gibson then asked Harris about the bestiality videos found on the computer.

Harris called the downloads normal, natural curiosities.

"What makes you different from all of the other perverts," asked Gibson.

"I'm not a pervert," replied Harris.

Gibson's line of questioning grew stronger and Harris attempted to avoid direct answers.

One of Harris' sons grew angry and was visibly angry at Gibson. Harris' wife Mary looked at her son and said "We must be strong for daddy."

Gibson told the court this was the first time in 23 years that he had seen a porn case that included videos of infants being sexually abused.

He said one clip showed a four year old girl, spread eagle on a bed with red writing on her chest that read "Come hurt me."

The district attorney prepared a slideshow of some of the clips for the judge to view.

The judge declined to view it.

Page asked Harris if child porn can easily be found on the Internet.

Harris said it was relatively easy and that all of what he downloaded was free.

After closing arguments, Page sentenced Harris to 29 years.

He must serve 85 percent of the time before being considered for probation.

Harris said he always considered pornography as a victimless crime, but he now realizes his family and the Salvation Army are his victims.