Canal Winchester man pleads guilty to raping and sexually assaulting girls

Michael Downin (courtesy of Franklin County Sheriff’s Office)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A Canal Winchester man accused of sexually abusing two girls has pleaded guilty and faces more than 26 years in prison.

Michael Downin, 65, pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of first-degree rape and two counts of third-degree sexual assault. In exchange for his guilty plea, the Franklin County prosecutor dropped eight counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and two counts of sexual battery.

Downin was accused of sexually abusing four girls under the age of 13 between March 2005 and 2019.

One victim said she was between 12 and 17 years old between 2013 and 2018. During these periods, she was sexually harassed, forced to perform sexual acts and raped. Another girl said she was abused for four years starting in 2015, when she was not yet 13 years old.

According to the agreement, Downin faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison plus 11 to 16 1/2 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for July 18.