Coach denies asking player to bean autistic child
Mark Downs Jr. testified he encouraged and happily made accommodations for an autistic player on his T-ball team, and never offered one of the best players on his team $25 to injure the child so he could not participate in a playoff game. Taking the stand in his own defense on Wednesday in Fayette County Court, Downs, 29, of Dunbar testified that all of the prosecution witnesses in the case were either mistaken, misunderstood or flat out lied about things he said.
He is charged with criminal solicitation to commit aggravated assault, conspiracy to commit simple assault, reckless endangerment and corruption of a minor for allegedly offering Keith Reese Jr. of Uniontown $25 to hit teammate Harry Bowers Jr. of Uniontown before a June 27, 2005, playoff game.
Downs testified that while it was good to see his team win, Downs testified he never would have a player intentionally disabled from playing.
“I would never go as far as to have any child on my team or any other team hurt so I could win,” he testified.
Downs testified he was running late from work, and didn’t arrive for the 7 p.m. game at the Oliver ball field North Union Township until 6:55 p.m. That left him just enough time to get the team gear to the dugout and make up his team roster for the night, he testified.
As he made up the roster, Downs testified that Bowers came to him twice, complaining first he was hit in the ear and then that he was hit in the groin. He testified the game started at 7:02 p.m., and that he at no time talked to Reese about hitting Bowers with the ball.
Reese testified Tuesday that Downs whispered to him in the parking lot that he would pay him for taking Bowers out of the game, and while the boys never warmed up together, Reese testified Downs instructed him to do so with Bowers that day.
When Bowers took the second hit and refused to get into his catcher’s gear to play, Downs testified he tried to encourage the then 9-year-old boy.
“Come on, buddy, play. Put your catcher equipment on. Go out there and play,” Downs recalled telling Bowers, now 11.
But as it became apparent that Bowers did not want to, Downs testified he pulled him from the first part of the game, hoping he would reconsider and play later.
“I’m not going to dress him and force him to put the catcher equipment on. I’m not there to baby-sit. I feel that’s the parent’s responsibility,” Downs testified.
Bowers did not play in any of the game. His mother, Jennifer, said that Downs told her it would be a good idea to sit him out because the balls “seemed to be after him.”
Downs denied saying that during questioning by defense attorney Thomas W. Shaffer.
He said Keith Reese Sr.’s testimony earlier in the day that Downs admitted after the game that he offered Keith Reese Jr. money to hit Bowers was not true.
“I can stand up and look him dead in the eyes and say, ‘Mr. Reese, you are a liar,'” Downs testified.
Others in the courtroom joined Downs in calling Reese a liar, prompting Warman to threaten to hold anyone responsible for courtroom outbursts in contempt.
As for Reese’s son, Downs testified, “Little Keithy is misunderstood in what he said, or maybe he is lying.”
Downs testified that if he had seen Reese Jr. and Bowers warming up together, he would have stopped it because he knew the boys were not evenly matched in skill.
He also testified he strives to make certain all the players on his team get to be in the game three full innings instead of the league minimum of one and a half.
“I had no problem letting the boy (Bowers) play as long as he was having fun and feeling part of the team,” Downs testified.
When District Attorney Nancy D. Vernon asked him why he believes people lied about him, Downs said he didn’t know.
“I’m not a mind reader. I cannot tell you what’s in that kid’s mind,” he said, referring to Reese Jr.
Downs testified that during a prior game he had a conflict with an umpire over a rule that precluded Downs from physically helping a player bat. Frustrated, he said he went into the dugout and said to his team, “Anybody, if you can line drive the ump, I’ll give you $25.”
He testified that he knew, realistically, none of his players, ages 5 to 8, had that much strength, and acknowledged that it was “a stupid thing to say.”
When Vernon asked Downs if he believed the entire matter was a misunderstanding over that comment, he said he wasn’t sure.
“I don’t know what it is. The people’s crazy,” he said.
Reese Sr. testified Wednesday morning that Downs has commented that Bowers and his brother “bring the team down.” Reese also testified that Downs told him to lie to Jennifer Bowers if she called him to ask about the dates of makeup games.
Downs denied both during his testimony.
After the game, as they were carrying equipment to Downs’ van, Reese Sr. testified Downs told him about the offer he made the Reese Jr.
“I want you to know I did something pretty ignorant,” Reese Sr. testified Downs said.
Downs went on to recount the offer, and Reese Sr. said he was dumbfounded.
“I couldn’t believe what I just heard,” he testified.
Later that night at their Uniontown home, Reese testified he told his son that he shouldn’t listen to any adult who tells him to harm another person.
Reese made several unsolicited statements during his testimony. As Shaffer questioned him about the length of warm-up time, Reese told the jury, “Thing is, he should be a man and admit what he did.”
Warman granted an objection lodged by Shaffer and struck that portion of Reese’s testimony.
He also testified that, although Shaffer suggested this entire episode was a misunderstanding, it was not.
“My son has never told a lie about anything,” Reese said.
Jurors also heard testimony from Downs’ father, Mark Sr., his twin daughters, Alyssa and Madison, and his fianc?e, Sheree Miller.
Downs Sr. and Miller testified they never saw Downs talk to Reese Jr. Additionally, Downs Sr. testified he was with his son and Reese Sr. when they took equipment to the van, and no conversation about the alleged solicitation occurred.
Identically dressed in purple shirts and jean skirts, 9-year-old Alyssa and Madison Downs testified separately that they arrived late to the June 27 game and only had “like three minutes” to warm up.
“All I know is we got there late and only had five minutes left,” Alyssa Downs testified.
Vernon declined to cross-examine both children.
Miller, who was the Falcons’ assistant coach, estimated that out of 13 players, Bowers was “fourth or fifth from the bottom” on the team.
“He’s not the worst player on the team. Actually, he does pretty well,” she testified.
The trial will resume this morning, when jurors will hear closing remarks and begin deliberations.