Brian Downing, Alabama fan guilty in post-BCS assault, sentenced to 2 years
 

The Alabama man who rubbed his genitals on a drunken LSU football fan at the Bourbon Street Krystal Burger after the 2012 BCS Championship game was sentenced Thursday to spend two years in prison. Brian Downing, 33, pleaded guilty last month to two obscenity counts and agreed to the deal, skirting a trial on his original charge of sexual battery, a possible 10-year sentence and registration as a sex offender.

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The sentence -- basically a formality -- was imposed by Criminal Court Judge Karen Herman. Herman called Downing a "bully," adding: "You chose wisely to enter into this plea bargain. The actions that you took on Jan. 9 of this year were morally reprehensible, there's no way around it."

Neither Downing nor the victim spoke.

The incident, just before midnight on Jan. 9, was caught in a video that went viral across the internet. It showed Downing surrounded by a chanting crowd of red-clad Alabama fans celebrating their victory over LSU.

The drunken LSU fan appears to be alone, passed out on a counter. He remained slumped across the table as the Alabama group balanced food containers on him and shouted "Roll Tide!"

Downing, in the video, then pulls his genitals from his pants and rubs them across the man's neck.

The YouTube video spread across the internet, finally reaching Downing's cousin, Russell County, Ala., Sheriff Heath Taylor, who called Downing's father and encouraged him to turn himself over to the law.

He was charged with sexual battery and obscenity, facing up to 10 years in prison and registration as a sex offender if convicted at trial. But last month, Downing reached an 11th-hour plea deal with prosecutors just before his trial was set to begin.

He agreed to plead guilty to two counts of obscenity in exchange for a two-year sentence. He will not be required to register as a sex offender under the terms of the deal. His lawyers have said he could be out of prison in nine months.

The victim -- who is not being named by The Times-Picayune -- has filed a lawsuit against Downing and the fast-food chain.

Brian Downing, Alabama fan guilty in post-BCS assault, sentenced to 2 years | NOLA.com

Re: Brian Downing, Alabama fan guilty in post-BCS assault, sentenced to 2 years
 

He got off easy.

Re: Brian Downing, Alabama fan guilty in post-BCS assault, sentenced to 2 years
 

IDK, nine-months to two-years in prison as a sex-offender? I gotta' feeling he's gonna' be the target of a little genital-rubbing himself ... "Welcome to Shawshank" ...

Re: Brian Downing, Alabama fan guilty in post-BCS assault, sentenced to 2 years
 

I forget did he play in the game ? Oh No he just a fan. A fan thats all. What were you thinking man.

Re: Brian Downing, Alabama fan guilty in post-BCS assault, sentenced to 2 years
 

No doubt he'll be a passenger on the skin boat to rectumville, but he was looking at a possible 10 years.

He ruined a young man's life with his stupid drunken T-bag assault.

Re: Brian Downing, Alabama fan guilty in post-BCS assault, sentenced to 2 years
 

Where were that guys friends.

Re: Brian Downing, Alabama fan guilty in post-BCS assault, sentenced to 2 years
 

Probably drunk like everyone else...

Re: Brian Downing, Alabama fan guilty in post-BCS assault, sentenced to 2 years
 

... they were the ones taking the video ... birds of a fricken' feather, I guess, :rolleyes:.

Re: Brian Downing, Alabama fan guilty in post-BCS assault, sentenced to 2 years
 

Nice friends

Re: Brian Downing, Alabama fan guilty in post-BCS assault, sentenced to 2 years
 

Absolutely irrelevant to the punishment this jerk recieved. Maybe they all went home, or maybe they were female and were scared for their own safety, or maybe they were severly outnumbered. It doesn't matter.

The perp should pay big time. Nine months is miniscule compared to the lifelong humiliation this young man faces.

This goes way beyond college allegience or fan versus fan. This is sexual assault and is as close to rape as you can get. The guy is scum and I hope the bastard gets exactly what he deserves in prison, whatever that may be.

Re: Brian Downing, Alabama fan guilty in post-BCS assault, sentenced to 2 years
 

Yeah, I have a feeling "The Sisters" will take care of him soon enough. Unless, of course, he can save the warden and the captain of the guards from paying taxes.

Re: Brian Downing, Alabama fan guilty in post-BCS assault, sentenced to 2 years
 

Revolting stuff, to be sure.

I've tossed a good many pints in my time, but can't imagine getting drunk enough to rub my junk on some poor dude in a Krystal.

Did anything happen to the sleazebags who stood around watching & taping? I'll bet you'd face charges if you stood by watching (and especially taping) someone getting raped.

Re: Brian Downing, Alabama fan guilty in post-BCS assault, sentenced to 2 years
 

Was just thinking this exact thing.