FORT WORTH (WBAP/KLIF News ) – A former Cook Children’s Hospital chaplain who recorded himself sexually abusing a minor was sentenced to 60 years in federal prison Thursday, announced the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District Leigha Simonton on Friday.
71-year-old Michael Downs was charged via criminal complaint in March 2023 and pleaded guilty in July 2023 to two counts of sexual exploitation of children.
U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman also ordered a lifetime of supervised release.
According to plea papers, the investigation began on January 22, 2023 after a 17-year-old girl told her aunt she had been sexually abused by Mr. Downs.
The victim said he recorded the sexual abuse on an iPad. Mr. Downs’ wife provided law enforcement with several electronic devices from their residence.
Authorities found a hard drive that contained numerous videos and photos of Mr. Downs engaging in sexually explicit conduct with the minor.
“This is an incredibly important case involving shocking and abhorrent conduct,” said U.S. Attorney Simonton. “One of our most veteran prosecutors worked on this matter along with our partners at Homeland Security Investigations and the Fort Worth Police Department to ensure that this defendant was brought to justice. Let this be a message to others who seek to prey on children in this way: We will do everything in our power to incapacitate you by locking you away in prison for as long as possible.”
“While preying on the vulnerability of our youth, those in positions of public trust should expect the most stern accountability for their actions,” said HSI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Lester R. Hayes Jr. “Due to our strong partnership with the Fort Worth Police Department, we were again successful in prosecuting another sexual predator and preventing the victimization of more children.”
According to Downs LinkedIn page, he starting working for Cook Children’s Hospital in 2013 and retired in 2022.
Copyright 2023. WBAP/KLIF News. All Rights Reserved.
