GUILTY AK - Sophie Sergie, 20, UAF student, murdered, Fairbanks, 26 April 1993 *Arrest in 2019*

[Jbetty567]

Anybody know what the last entry on the docket means? Did the judge deny the new trial motion? If so, I'm surprised I don't see any articles about that.

3/03/22 Notice of Filing Proposed Order Denying Defendant's Motion for Judgment of Acquittal or New Trial Office of Special Prosecutions (Attorney) on behalf of State of Alaska (Prosecution)

 

[PayrollNerd]

Lots more entries on the docket now.

4FA-19-00504CR



https://records.courts.alaska.gov/e...uypxJVW7MhFv-jBFyxcAYHQ4PoKphgmPyujXNdZZ3p8UQ

 

[PayrollNerd]

Sentence Hearing in Sept 2022

4FA-19-00504CR


https://records.courts.alaska.gov/e...uypxJVW7MhFv-jBFyxcAYHQ4PoKphgmPyujXNdZZ3p8UQ

 

[faithx]

Judge rejects new trial for Auburn man convicted of Alaska murder 29 years ago

"The judge who presided over the sexual assault and murder trial of an Auburn man this year in Alaska on Friday rejected an appeal for a new trial or a judgment of acquittal, citing a lack of evidence."

 

[Jbetty567]

Thank goodness.

 

[Niner]

@PayrollNerd - just checking & making sure Downs' sentencing hearings are still on for 9/26 & 9/27.

TIA!

 

[PayrollNerd]

4FA-19-00504CR

Yup, nothing new on the schedule or the Docket.

https://records.courts.alaska.gov/eaccess/searchresults.page?x=-nNaqY9cc3lAEZ6hGVEaHKbY491r-BREOQVyp2dBum0y4E4EFf8qdev6j5*WMF0OmvQPn17meM3g7mjfu5TTdA

 

[Niner]

4FA-19-00504CR

Yup, nothing new on the schedule or the Docket.

View attachment 368716

https://records.courts.alaska.gov/eaccess/searchresults.page?x=-nNaqY9cc3lAEZ6hGVEaHKbY491r-BREOQVyp2dBum0y4E4EFf8qdev6j5*WMF0OmvQPn17meM3g7mjfu5TTdA

Thanks for checking!

 

[Niner]

I shall shorten this up a bit.


Monday, Sept. 26th:
*Sentencing Hearing (Day 1 of 2) (@ 2:15pm AKST) – AK – Sophie Sergie (20) (April 26, 1993, Fairbanks) - *Steven Harris Downs (18 @ time of crime/44/now 48) arrested (in Auburn, Maine), charged (2/15/19), indicted (3/14/19) & arraigned (8/6/19 & 8/14/19) with 1st degree intentional murder & 1st degree sexual assault. Plead not guilty. Held without bond, changed to $1M (8/6/19). Bond changed (8/16/19) to $550K. Held without bond after verdict (2/10/22) of guilty.
DNA GEDMatch/Parabon Nanolabs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP)). The Downs case may be the first real test of the limits of DNA forensics in criminal prosecutions — that this case may even reach the U.S. Supreme Court.
Trial began on 1/10/22 & ended with closing arguments on 2/7/22. Jurors: 10 women & 6 men (includes 4 alternates). Jury deliberations started on 2/7/22 thru 2/10/22. Jury found him guilty of all charges.
Court information from 2/19/19 thru 1/5/22 & Trial Days 1/10 to 2/9/22 (Day 1-20) reference post #268 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...s-26-april-1993-arrest-in-2019.305947/page-14
2/10/22 Thursday, Trial Day 21: The jury deliberated for days (since Monday) before reaching a verdict Thursday morning. Downs was found guilty on both charges, 1st degree murder & 1st degree sexual assault. Defense attorney James Howaniec said by phone Thursday that Downs & his team of defense lawyers were disappointed by the verdict & that there would likely be an appeal. Howaniec said questions about genetic genealogy will likely be raised on appeal. Downs is being held without bail at the Fairbanks Correctional Center & is scheduled to be sentenced on 9/26/22 & 9/27/22. He faces a maximum prison sentence of 129 years.
2/21/22 Update: Attorneys Franklin E. Spaulding of Spaulding Law & James P. Howaniec of Howaniec Law Offices filed a motion requesting that the court enter a judgement of acquittal & dismiss the convictions against Downs or that a new trial be granted. The defense had moved for a judgement of acquittal, but it had been denied by the court. Alaska law allows a defendant to renew a motion for judgement of acquittal within five days of a verdict. The motion was filed last Monday. The defense also accused the prosecution of improper allegations, specifically relating to the prosecutor arguing that Downs had lied to investigators when asked if he personally knew Sergie. The motion is different from an appeal, which cannot be made until after sentencing. Downs is scheduled to be sentenced on 9/26/22 & 9/27/22.
2/23/22: Motion #32: Motion to expedite expedited motion for press access to juror names, addresses & jury notes filed by Press. Motion #33: Expedited Motion for press access to juror names, addresses & jury notes filed by Press. 2/24/22: Order: Denying Motion #32. 3/3/11: Notice of filing proposed order denying defendant's motion for judgment of acquittal or new trial filed by special prosecutions (attorney) on behalf of State.
3/25/22 Update: Judge Thomas Temple said in his denial that the defense did not present enough evidence to support its arguments for a new trial. He rejected an appeal for a new trial or a judgment of acquittal. In their motion, Downs’ attorneys cited several grounds for acquittal or new trial in Fairbanks Superior Court, alleging, among other improprieties, misconduct on the part of prosecutors & the lead investigator in the case. When the state rested its case against Downs at trial, the defense had motioned for an acquittal, which was denied by Judge Thomas Temple. In his Friday ruling, Temple addressed each of the defense claims, including the belief certain phone calls between Downs & his attorneys before the trial while Downs was in jail had been illegally monitored by the state.

 

[Niner]

Looks like no day 2 for sentencing - found this article for yesterday.

Downs sentenced to 75 years for murder and assault of Sophie Sergie in Fairbanks

A Fairbanks judge handed down sentencing today for the 1993 murder and sexual assault of Alaska Native woman Sophie Sergie.

www.alaskasnewssource.com

Sept. 26, 2022
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - A Fairbanks judge handed down sentencing today for the 1993 murder and sexual assault of Alaska Native woman Sophie Sergie.

Superior Court Judge Thomas Temple sentenced Maine resident Steven Downs to 67 years for murder and eight years for sexual assault of the young woman, concluding an investigation and trial that spanned nearly three decades.

A jury found Downs, 48, guilty in February of this year following two days of deliberation.

 

[dotr]

Sept 27 2022

Steven Downs sentenced to 75 years for 1993 murder of Sophie Sergie in his Alaska college dorm

'Downs will be eligible for parole after serving a minimum of 25 years.© Provided by Bangor WABI-TV'

 

[NuttMegg]

Maine man sentenced to 75 years in Alaska cold-case murder and rape of woman at UAF

Steven Downs was convicted by a Fairbanks jury in February of the murder and sexual assault of Sophie Sergie, 20, of Pitkas Point in 1993.

www.adn.com

But guess what, only 25 years to go for a parole hearing.

RIP Sweet Sophie.

 

[NuttMegg]

So sad for the poor murderer. The nights had been long and cold. (In an overheated dorm, no less) But he was very Immature! He was "very" popular" and had a "beautiful girlfriend". He was under pressure from final exams!! Oh, poor murderer, he was 4k miles from home!

GMAB

 

[dotr]

Man convicted of brutal 1993 rape, murder of woman in University of Alaska dorm shower room

Sophie Sergie decided to bunk in a friend's dorm room during an April 1993 trip to Fairbanks for an orthodontic appointment. The 20-year-old's brutalized body was found two days later in one of the dorm's shower rooms. She had been tased, raped, stabbed and shot.

www.wftv.com

rbbm.

Maine man sentenced to 75 years in Alaska cold-case murder and rape of woman at UAF

Steven Downs was convicted by a Fairbanks jury in February of the murder and sexual assault of Sophie Sergie, 20, of Pitkas Point in 1993.

www.adn.com

''A Maine man convicted this year in the murder of an Alaska Native woman in Fairbanks nearly 30 years ago was sentenced to a total of 75 years in prison.

That was the sentence handed down Monday night by Judge Thomas Temple to 48-year-old Steven H. Downs in Fairbanks Superior Court. He was sentenced to 67 years for murder and an additional eight years for sexual assault.

Downs was convicted by a jury in February of the murder and sexual assault of Sophie Sergie, 20, of Pitkas Point.

Prosecutors had sought the maximum sentence of 99 years for murder, plus eight years for sexually assaulting Sergie in 1993.

Downs will be eligible for discretionary parole after 25 years. He declined to give a statement at his sentencing.''

 

[Mind your biscuits]

View attachment 369458

Man convicted of brutal 1993 rape, murder of woman in University of Alaska dorm shower room

Sophie Sergie decided to bunk in a friend's dorm room during an April 1993 trip to Fairbanks for an orthodontic appointment. The 20-year-old's brutalized body was found two days later in one of the dorm's shower rooms. She had been tased, raped, stabbed and shot.

www.wftv.com

rbbm.

Maine man sentenced to 75 years in Alaska cold-case murder and rape of woman at UAF

Steven Downs was convicted by a Fairbanks jury in February of the murder and sexual assault of Sophie Sergie, 20, of Pitkas Point in 1993.

www.adn.com

''A Maine man convicted this year in the murder of an Alaska Native woman in Fairbanks nearly 30 years ago was sentenced to a total of 75 years in prison.

That was the sentence handed down Monday night by Judge Thomas Temple to 48-year-old Steven H. Downs in Fairbanks Superior Court. He was sentenced to 67 years for murder and an additional eight years for sexual assault.

Downs was convicted by a jury in February of the murder and sexual assault of Sophie Sergie, 20, of Pitkas Point.

Prosecutors had sought the maximum sentence of 99 years for murder, plus eight years for sexually assaulting Sergie in 1993.

Downs will be eligible for discretionary parole after 25 years. He declined to give a statement at his sentencing.''

I'm happy about that, hope he never gets out. Moo.

 

[NuttMegg]

Maine man appeals Alaska murder and sex assault convictions and sentences

Steven H. Downs, 48, was convicted at trial by a jury in Fairbanks of the 1993 dormitory murder and sexual assault of Sophie Sergie, 20, of Pitkas Point.

www.adn.com

"Downs was convicted at trial by a jury in Fairbanks of the 1993 dormitory murder and sexual assault of Sophie Sergie, 20, of Pitkas Point.

He was sentenced last month to a total of 75 years in prison for two crimes: 67 years for murder and eight years for sexual assault.

Downs will be eligible for discretionary parole after 25 years.

Through his lead trial attorney, James Howaniec of Lewiston, Downs cited the points of his appeal...."

 

[NuttMegg]

Here is one of the points of his appeal,
"Downs also claimed the judge should have disallowed at trial so-called third-party DNA evidence (from Downs’ aunt.)"
-------------------------------------------------
"The case had gone cold until 2018 when it was revived after Downs’ aunt had submitted her DNA to a company that matched it in a random hit to semen found inside Sergie at the crime scene."
----------------------------------------------
There are other points listed, but this is the most interesting to me. Getting to be a common place method of finding criminals thru their relatives' own DNA analyses. I hope they don't curtail this type of DNA search.

Maine man appeals Alaska murder and sex assault convictions and sentences

Steven H. Downs, 48, was convicted at trial by a jury in Fairbanks of the 1993 dormitory murder and sexual assault of Sophie Sergie, 20, of Pitkas Point.

www.adn.com