A former Boston police sergeant has been indicted by a grand jury on serious charges related to the alleged sexual assault of a 14-year-old boy he met through a dating app.
Paul Downey, who is 57 years old and resides in West Roxbury, was initially charged in Boston Municipal Court where a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf.
The indictment from the grand jury escalates the case to Suffolk Superior Court, where Downey is scheduled to appear next Friday.
He faces new allegations including aggravated rape of a minor, sexual conduct with a child under 18, and electronic enticement of a child for sexual activity.
Grand juries serve to review the evidence presented by prosecutors and determine if it is adequate to formalize charges.
Following the initial charges, Downey was placed on administrative leave from the Boston Police Department.
Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox expressed concern over the charges, stating that such allegations are deeply troubling and that their thoughts are with any alleged victims.
Downey, who had been with the force since 1991, resigned from his position in July.
Court documents reveal that Downey connected with the 14-year-old boy via the Grindr dating app around March 26.
After their initial contact, the conversation moved to Snapchat, where Downey allegedly proposed to pay the teen for oral sex.
Prosecutors claim that Downey picked up the victim, drove him to a parking lot near the South Bay mall, and raped him, for which he allegedly paid the victim $50.
Documents show that prior to their meeting, the child communicated via Snapchat, expressing discomfort with the amount being offered, stating, “That’s too low. I’m 14, you know, I’m young, and you’re asking me to commit a crime.”
In response, Downey allegedly increased the proposed payment to $80.
Prosecutors allege that Downey continued to communicate with the victim, arranging another sexual encounter.
On May 11, he is accused of meeting the teen again in the same location, again committing rape, and paying $80.
Surveillance footage reportedly captured Downey’s vehicle parking at the South Bay mall for approximately 10 minutes, coinciding with the victim’s text to a friend that “he’s here.”
Furthermore, Snapchat records aided in identifying Downey as a potential suspect through an IP address linked to the online conversations.
The victim provided important details including a physical description and a potential license plate number, which matched a vehicle associated with Downey.
The victim was able to identify Downey through a photo array presented by authorities.
In a June court hearing, Downey was visible mostly with his back to the attendees, occasionally looking sideways while wearing a face mask.
He was ordered held on a cash bail of $250,000, as proposed by prosecutors, who cited the severity of the charges and Downey’s considerable financial resources, having earned approximately $280,000 in the previous year.
In contrast, Downey’s public defender requested a bail amount of $40,000, asserting that he and his family cannot afford a higher amount.
image source from：nbcboston
