Michael Philip Dowd, Sexual Abuse, Michigan 2024

A 56-year-old L’Anse man has been charged with multiple counts of sexual abuse.

Michael Philip Dowd, 56, of the L’Anse Indian Reservation, has been indicted on one count of aggravated sexual abuse and one count of sexual abuse. Each count carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.

The indictment alleges that between April 8 and April 9, 2024, Dowd knowingly engaged in a sexual act with the victim by using his body to hold the victim down and performing a sexual act on the victim. It also alleges that Dowd knowingly engaged in a sexual act with the victim without the victim’s consent and while the victim was incapable of appraising the nature of the conduct and physically incapable of declining participation in, or communicating unwillingness to engage in, the sexual act.

U.S. Attorney Mark Totten said, “My office is prepared to make its case in court and strongly encourages anyone with information about Mr. Dowd who can assist with this active investigation to contact our Marquette Office.”

The case was investigated by the Keweenaw Bay Tribal Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI are continuing to investigate Dowd for sexual abuse and abusive sexual contact. Anyone who has not previously provided information about conduct involving Dowd should contact the FBI or U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan, Marquette Branch Office, at 906-226-2500.

The charges in an indictment are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is encouraged to come forward.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdmi/pr/2024_0620_Dowd_M_Indictment