Convicted Sex Offender Remanded Without Bail

By: Brittany Grove

NORWICH — Convicted sex offender, Richard D. Downey, was charged with violation of probation and appeared before Judge Frank B. Revoir in Chenango County Court on Oct. 27.

Downey did not have a lawyer, but he had an application for a public defender with him. Revoir had public defender John D. Cameron stand in as his lawyer for the court appearance.

Downey was convicted of two sex offender charges, one in 2006 and another in 2008. He was sentenced to 10 years of probation.

“Judge, I request that the defendant be remanded without bail. He has committed two serious sex offenses. He was looking at pornography of young teenage victims on his phone, which is in violation of his probation,” said District Attorney Joseph A. McBride.

Cameron told Revoir that Downey has a heart condition and is on as-needed medication because of it. He said Downey's health may be an issue with regards to remanding him.

“I see here that there are very serious allegations against him. Although they are allegations, they are ongoing,” Revoir said.

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McBride said Downey was charged with sexual performance of a child and sexual abuse of a child. “He was designated as a level three,” McBride said.

McBride also said the reason Downey did not go to prison was because of his age. Downey is currently in his 70's.

Revoir remanded Downey without bail.

After Downey was put in handcuffs by the court officer, he said to family members, “I want a different lawyer” as he was escorted out of the court room.

A conference will be held in Nov. to discuss Downey's case.

A Coventry man accused of burglary and man accused of violating stay-away orders appeared in Chenango County Court before Revoir on Monday, Nov. 3.

• Justin L. Brownell, 23, Coventry, was remanded by the Town of Coventry Court for the Class C felony of burglary in the second degree and other lower charges. The local judge did not set bail.

Public defender John Cameron requested that Revoir set bail for his client.

First Assistant District Attorney Michael D. Ferrarese requested bail be set in the amount of $5,000.

“He knows he will be indicted and he is facing a maximum of 15 years. He poses a flight risk because he knows what’s in front of him,” Ferrarese said to Revoir.

“Your honor, just because you have a felony, does not mean you pose a flight risk,” Cameron said.

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