Prosecutors claim a Boston police sergeant sexually assaulted a 14-year-old boy after interacting with the minor online, and the officer was placed under $250,000 cash bond on Tuesday.
Initially charged with four charges of aggravated rape of a juvenile, two counts of paying for sex with a kid under the age of 18, and two counts of electronically enticing a child for commercial sex, Paul Downey, 58, of West Roxbury, was arraigned Monday in the Dorchester division of the Boston Municipal Court. On his behalf, a not guilty plea was entered.
The child was allegedly raped twice by Downey in March and May. Prosecutor Brandon DeAvilla told the court on Tuesday that Downey paid the teenager for sex and messaged the kid to work out a deal for the meetings, which started at $50.
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Boston police sergeant facing child rape charges
In essence, the child responds, “That’s too low.” I am fourteen years old. “You’re asking me to commit a crime, and you know I’m young,” DeAvilla remarked. The defendant then asks, “How about $80?”
According to DeAvilla, the child gave police a description of the suspect as well as a partial license plate and description of the car the man was using. Authorities identified Downey as the accused offender, he said, using IP address logs, Snapchat communications, video surveillance, and other evidence.
According to DeAvilla, investigators discovered a vehicle that fit the child’s description parked outside Downey’s home and, at another time, outside the Boston Police Department headquarters.He claimed that the toddler had 90% certainty in identifying Downey in a photo array.
DeAvilla requested $250,000 in cash bail, pointing court that Downey earned over $268,000 in the previous year and that four of the sergeant’s offenses carried mandatory minimum 10-year prison terms. In order to protect the victim and any potential future victims, he asked for a number of pretrial conditions of release in the event that Downey posted bail.
Vanessa Campbell, Downey’s public defender for bail reasons, noted that the sergeant had no prior criminal history and contended that there is no reason to believe he won’t show up for future court appearances. She recommended no more than $40,000 in cash bail, stating that $250,000 is well beyond Downey’s means.
According to Campbell, he has lived in Boston all of his life. Here, he has a number of cousins and other relatives. He is not in danger of taking off.
Despite his disagreement, Judge Jonathan Tynes decided to support the prosecution.
Tynes clarified, “I do believe that Mr. Downey is at risk of fleeing due to the seriousness of the charges against him, the possible penalties on the multiple counts, and his financial resources.”
According to court documents, if Downey posts bail, he would be subject to GPS tracking, avoid communication with the claimed victim, and other requirements. His next court date is July 29.
Downey, a 34-year veteran of the Boston Police Department, has been placed on administrative leave in the interim.
Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox previously stated in a statement that “these charges are obviously very troubling and our thoughts are with any alleged victims.” We trust the [Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office] and the Massachusetts State Police to carry out a comprehensive inquiry.
Abby Patkin covers a wide range of topics as a general assignment news reporter, including crime, public transportation, health, and everything in between. She has been reporting on the murder case of Karen Read.
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