Suspended Trooper Convicted of Salisbury Assault

SALISBURY, MA – After a two and a half hour deliberation yesterday afternoon, a Salem Superior Court jury found suspended State Trooper Thomas Downs guilty of assault and battery. Judge Timothy Feeley sentenced him to two years straight probation.

Downs, 60, was convicted of assaulting his former girlfriend on Feb. 22, 2015 in Salisbury. The victim was trying to leave their Salisbury residence when he blocked her car from leaving the driveway, and punched her several times in the head, according to a statement from the District Attorney's office. The victim suffered multiple contusions to her forehead.

Under Feeley's sentence, Downs will complete a batterer's intervention program, undergo substance abuse evaluation and follow up treatment, and have no contact whatsoever with the victim and witnesses.

The state had requested a two-year sentence to be suspended for three years. Downs was not found guilty of suffocation, and of another count of assault and battery. The trail lasted for five days. Downs was represented by George Murphy.

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