GALLATIN CO., Ill.—Much is being made over a local Shawneetown man who has been transferred to DOC as of last week.
The big deal seems to be that people believe something’s being covered up. The bigger deal is that what’s alleged to have been covered up is possibly sexual in nature.
There’s nothing on file to indicate that this is the case. However, what IS on file is strange enough…and of course, in Gallatin, with Allen Roe as the prosecutor, he’s so hesitant to let the full story get out…especially when the last name is connected to one of the handful of farm families who among them own all the land in the county.
Bobby Downen, Jr.
Ergo many will recognize the name Downen.
The offender who was shipped off to Menard last Tuesday is Bobby Downen Jr., 62, who was charged in January with an incident dating back to last September, wherein he was accused of “causing great bodily harm to a family member under the age of 13″ as well as “illegally detaining” this same family member.
Our sources in Gallatin have advised that the incident that prompted the ‘great bodily harm’ and ‘restraint’ have something to do with sexual molestation.
Unfortunately, IF that is the case, there is NOTHING on record to indicate that that occurred. Unless the victim’s family comes to us and point blank states that that was what happened, there is nothing else to report.
The sources insist that the family kept at Allen Roe until he did something about the situation. IF there was sexual abuse involved and Roe only filed a GBH (great bodily harm), then he’s doing the people of Gallatin a huge disservice…as well as allowing a sex offender back on the streets in 2020, which is when Downen will be paroled.
Downen is reportedly the father-in-law of an ISP trooper. Whether Roe was being extra cautious because of that is unknown, but the victim is reportedly the trooper’s kin. So if that’s the family who was beating down Roe’s door trying to get him to do something, you have a greater problem in Gallatin with Roe than I can even express here.
Regardless of lack of information about any sexual misconduct, the fact remains that Downen is now in DOC. If we learn more, we’ll have it in the print edition in April, on stands April 16, and of course right here on your computer with the e-Edition; if you don’t have an online membership, sign up by clicking this link.