Patterson trial delayed until October because of new charges
Anthony Patterson’s trial on sex charges involving children will not begin in May as planned.
At a hearing Wednesday, 78th District Court Judge Meredith Kennedy set a new trial date of Oct. 30. The delay comes after five new serious charges were lodged against Patterson, former president of the Patterson Automobile dealership.
His defense lawyers wanted more time to prepare for the new allegations, which were filed after Brooke Grona-Robb, a Texas Assistant Attorney General who is aiding in the prosecution, and an investigator interviewed two young girls who are alleged victims of Patterson. The interviews, conducted in late April, resulted in new charges of aggravated sexual assault and sexual performance of a child being tacked onto indecency and trafficking of a person charges Patterson already faced.
The District Attorney’s Office did not oppose moving the trial date. Grona-Robb did, however, ask that stiffer bail requirements be imposed on Patterson because of the new charges. She said Patterson has traveled out of town to meet with his attorneys, which was a violation of his bail terms.
“It’s not necessary for him to travel to Dallas. His attorneys can come here,” she said.
Patterson’s lawyers argued that Patterson got permission to leave town and has otherwise obeyed the terms of his bond.
Judge Kennedy said her concern was that Patterson was a flight risk, noting that he had quickly posted $2.5 million bail after spending a single night in jail on the new charges. She set a hearing for June 1 to decide whether new bond conditions should be set.
Patterson’s attorneys also hinted they are considering a change of venue request – moving the trial out of Wichita Falls -- but said they hadn’t decided yet.
Patterson was first arrested Feb. 3, 2021. A Texas Ranger's arrest report alleged he told a Vernon woman he met on a "sugar daddy" website in 2017 that he was attracted to children. The woman, Jandreani Bell, told a DA's investigator and an FBI agent that Patterson was a wealthy man who paid her for sex. She later told a DA's investigator and the Texas Ranger that she began bringing her two young female relatives with her from Vernon to Wichita Falls for Patterson. The girls were ages 8 and 10 at the time. In the subsequent interviews with the girls, now 14 and 16, they described other sexual contact with Patterson in 2017 that led to the new charges.
If convicted, Patterson faces up to life in prison. For now he remains free on the original terms of his bail. Bell also faces charges in connection with the allegations and is free from jail.
This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Patterson trial delayed until October because of new charges
