Steven Downs arraigned in Fairbanks; defense attorneys visit crime scene
Aug 15, 2019
"FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) Steven Downs is in Fairbanks and he appeared in court on Wednesday for his arraignment. Downs’ attorneys entered a not guilty plea to Fairbanks Superior Court Judge Thomas Temple.
The mother of Sophie Sergie, appeared in court via telephone and with the aid of a Yup'ik translator took part in the hearing....
"He was transported across the country, spent time in four different prisons across the United States, and now he is here,” said his attorney James Howaniec of Maine....
Howaniec said that Downs is innocent. "Of all the cases that I have done, there have been few where I have been more convinced that my client is innocent. This is a case that I feel very strongly about. So much so that I have flown 4 or 5,000 miles to be here.”
Downs’ family has retained three attorneys to represent him. Howaniec is joined by his partner from Maine, Jesse Archer and Fairbanks attorney, Frank Spaulding.
Howaniec and Spaulding went to UAF before the arraignment hearing to see firsthand where the crime scene was....
Sergie, who was from Pitkas Point and visiting Fairbanks when she was killed was staying with friends on the second floor of Bartlett Hall. Downs’ room was on the third floor and his girlfriend at the time, lived on the fourth floor.
Downs’ attorneys say he spent most of the night of the murder with his girlfriend on the fourth floor.
They also went the bathroom where Sergie’s body was found. Sergie was found lying on her back in the tub with her pants and underwear removed and her shirt pushed up over her breasts. She was found with multiple stab wounds on her face and a gunshot wound to the back of the head.
Downs’ attorneys believe that there are other explanations and suspects for the crime and hope to prove it in court...
Downs next court date will be on
August 16 when he is scheduled to have a bail hearing"
Steven Downs arraigned in Fairbanks; defense attorneys visit crime scene