NYPD VICE SQUAD DETECTIVE CONVICTED OF THE FORCIBLE SODOMY OF A 16 YEAR OLD PROSTITUTE AND OTHER OFFENSES

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that New York City Police Detective Anthony Downing has been found guilty of forcing a 16 year old prostitute to engage in oral sex. Downing, 38 of Manhattan, was convicted by a jury of one count of Sodomy in the 1st degree, one count of Reckless Endangerment in the 2nd degree and Driving While Under the Influence of Alcohol and Driving While Impaired.

State Supreme Court Justice Dominick Massaro set sentencing for Tuesday, August 20, 2002 in Part 14. Downing, whom the judge allowed to remain free on his own recognizance over the People’s objection, is facing a maximum sentence of up to 25 years imprisonment on the sodomy charge, a Class B felony offense.

The incident occurred on January 27, 2001 at approximately four o’clock in the morning. Downing, who had been drinking, was off duty and driving through the Hunts Point section of the Bronx, when he solicited the young prostitute for oral sex in exchange for a $30 fee on January 27, 2001. The victim got into the defendant’s sport utility vehicle but quickly changed her mind and asked Downing to let her out when he began driving erratically through a number of red lights and stop signs even though it was snowing. The defendant ignored the young girl’s repeated requests to be allowed to get out of the vehicle and yanked her by the hair when she attempted to flee. The jury heard testimony that Downing eventually parked in the vicinity of Ryawa and Costner Avenues where he ordered the victim to remove her clothing, took her money and jewelry, and forcibly subjected her to an oral sexual assault. The young girl escaped when she noticed a New York City Police Department van drive pass the defendant’s vehicle. She jumped from the vehicle naked and screamed for help. Downing fled at a high rate of speed when the police officers approached his vehicle. Downing lost control of the SUV at Manida and Viele Avenues where he crashed into another car before hitting a stop sign and a building. He was naked from the waist down when he got out of the vehicle.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Trial Assistant District Attorney Rosemary Harlem of the Domestic Violence Sex Offense Bureau.