Jury delivers split verdict for music instructor

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

A jury returned a split verdict against a music instructor who was accused of improper conduct with a student during a lesson at his Chablis Lane home in Poland in December 2012.

Jurors found Kevin Downs, 50, not guilty of abduction but guilty of public indecency Wednesday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

Downs was sentenced to 60 days in the county jail by Visiting Judge Paul Mitrovich, who then stayed the sentence pending an appeal.

Downs was a part-time volunteer instructor for the Poland band at the time of the incident. He was giving the female student a private drum lesson when the conduct took place.

Jurors deliberated over parts of Tuesday and Wednesday before reaching their verdicts. Trial in the case began Monday after a jury was selected.

The charge Downs was convicted on, the public-indecency charge, is a second-degree misdemeanor. The 60 days is the maximum sentence that can be given.

Downs was a volunteer working with the school district’s music programs but was not a district employee. He passed background checks to be allowed to tutor the students but was barred from school property after he was charged.

A grand jury indicted Downs in March 2013 and he has been free on bond since his arraignment in December 2012 in Struthers Municipal Court.