NYPD VICE SQUAD DETECTIVE IS SENTENCED FOR THE FORCIBLE SODOMY OF A 16 YEAR-OLD PROSTITUTE

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that former New York City Police Detective Anthony Downing has been sentenced for forcing a 16 year-old prostitute to engage in oral sex. Downing, 38, of Manhattan, was convicted in August 2002, 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 sentenced Downing to a term of 5 years imprisonment on the charge of sodomy, 1 year imprisonment on the charge of reckless endangerment and 1 year for each count of driving under the influence and driving while impaired to be served concurrently. In addition, a permanent order of protection was issued to the victim and the defendant will have to serve a term of 5 year’s post release supervision.

Assistant District Attorney Rosemary Harlem recommended that the defendant be sentenced to a term of 20 years imprisonment.

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 $30 fee. 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 girls’ repeated requests to be allowed 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 past 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 waste down when he got out of the vehicle.