W’ville man accused of creating child porn

A Williamsville man will continue to be held without bond after he appeared in court Monday morning on charges of creating child pornography and statutory sodomy.

Jeffrey L. Downing appeared before Associate Circuit Judge C. Wade Pierce for a bond reduction hearing in his case.

The 58-year-old has been held in the Butler County jail without bond since he was charged last week with the Class B felony of sexual exploitation of a minor and the Class D felony of second-degree statutory sodomy.

On Monday, Poplar Bluff attorney, Ted Liszewski, entered an appearance on Downing’s behalf and a hearing was held on Downing’s request for a bond reduction.

Pierce denied that request and ordered Downing to appear at 1 p.m. Aug. 20 for a preliminary hearing in his case.

The complaint alleges between Jan. 1, 2017, and July 18, Downing “knowingly created child pornography of a person less than 18 years of age by placing a digital recording device in the bathroom and making a moving picture” of a child.

The complaint further alleges on July 18, Downing “knowingly had deviate sexual intercourse” with a female, who was less than 17 years of age.

The charges stem from an investigation by the Butler County Sheriff’s Department, which began on July 18 when three thumb drives were turned over to Lt. Aaron Pratt.

According to Pratt’s probable-cause statement, he was told the drives contained numerous nude photographs and one video of a 16-year-old female.

The photographs and video were dated in 2017, which would have made the female 14 at the time, Pratt said.

During the investigation, Pratt said, he also learned Downing allegedly had sexually abused the teen, including as recently as July 18.

Pratt said he and Investigator Kellis Thompson reviewed the thumb drives and found 241 photographs and one 29-minute video of the teen. The photos and video reportedly were of a sexually-explicit nature.

Downing also allegedly was seen in the video setting up the recording device.

Pratt said Downing was arrested July 19 and interviewed by Thompson.

Downing “admitted to using a recording device to take a video of the juvenile while she was in the bathroom,” Pratt said. “(He) admitted to using the video to create photographs of the juvenile while she was nude.”

Pratt said Downing further admitted he has had “sexual contact with the juvenile” since she was 14 and to a sexual contact as recent as July 15.