BUCYRUS — Aaron Patterson, 42, currently housed in the Crawford County Jail, appeared in Crawford County Common Pleas Court, and pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual battery, each punishable with up to five years in prison.
While the victim was not present in the courtroom, her mother and other family members were present.
Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold gave the victims an opportunity to speak. They chose to have Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Hoovler speak on their behalf.
“She (the victim) came into this situation wanting to get to know her father whom she had never met,” Hoovler said. “She desired a father-daughter relationship with this defendant. What this defendant chose to do was to take advantage, victimize and abuse this child for wanting a daughter-father relationship and so much so that he had sexual contact with this child. This is the worst sexual battery you can have.”
Hoovler also told the court he had met with the victim,
“This child is intelligent. She’s a hero,” Hoovler said.
Hoovler noted how hard the victim was working to get her grades back up after this trauma. He also said she is in counseling to deal with the abuse.
“This child will never get over what her father did to her,” Hoovler said.
Hoovler indicated that more needs to happen to Patterson but the laws guide sentencing.
“Mr. Patterson has 15 years in prison to sit in that cell every single day and realize what he did to this child,” Hoovler said. “I hope that every day he sees the face of his daughter and realizes what he did, how he violated her when all she wanted was the love of her father.”
Court-appointed defense attorney Jerry Thompson told the court that Patterson had always been cooperative and positive with his staff.
“He understands he made an extremely horrible choice with his behavior,” Thompson said. “However, that is tempered by the fact he has taken responsibility.”
Leuthold told the court that these are the most difficult of cases.
“My heart goes out to the victims in this case, especially this little girl,” Leuthold said.
Leuthold sentenced Patterson to the maximum sentence of 180 months (15 years) in prison. Patterson is now a Tier III sex offender and when released from prison must register in person with the sheriff of his county of residence. He will receive 190 days of jail time credit.
“Fathers are supposed to protect their children from bad things. They are not supposed to do bad things to them,” Leuthold said. “You have utterly failed as a father. You are remanded into custody for transport to prison. That’s all I have to say.”