Caitlyn Cheyenne Downs, Child Abuse, Oklahoma 2023

OKLAHOMA CITY – A Stephens County woman has pleaded guilty to child abuse in Indian Country, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.

Caitlyn Cheyenne Downs, 24, of Stephens County, pleaded guilty to child abuse in Indian Country on September 11, 2023. The crime occurred between May 11, 2022, and September 20, 2022, resulting in the death of one of the minor children. Downs willfully failed to protect two minor children from harm or threatened harm and was responsible for their health, safety, and welfare.

The case began when a federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment against Downs on December 7, 2022, charging her with murder in the second degree and two counts of child abuse. Downs was later charged by a one-count Superseding Information with child abuse on August 29, 2023.

At a hearing on Monday, September 11, 2023, before United States District Judge Stephen P. Friot, Downs pleaded guilty to the single-count Superseding Information. She admitted that she was responsible for the health, safety, and welfare of the minor children and failed to protect them from harm to their health and safety.

This case is in federal court because Downs is a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the alleged crime occurred within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation.

At sentencing, Downs faces up to life in federal prison and a fine of up to $5,000.00. As part of a plea agreement, the government has agreed to dismiss the Indictment at sentencing, based on her guilty plea to the Superseding Information. Sentencing will take place in approximately 90 days.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdok/pr/stephens-county-woman-pleads-guilty-child-abuse-indian-country