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DAVIS COUNTY -- A courtroom scuffle straight out of "Law and Order" could mean more charges for a man already convicted of sexually abusing a then-10-year-old girl.
Prosecutors say Scott Patterson, 50, of Clearfield, abused his position of trust over the girl, now 12. A jury had no trouble convicting him on Tuesday.
Just after the verdict was read, the bailiff prepared to cuff Patterson and take him back to jail pending his sentence. It was at that moment that Deputy Davis County Attorney Rick Westmoreland says Patterson cocked back his arm and started running.
"[He] charged into the gallery, where the victim and the victim's mom were sitting," Westmoreland says.
Westmoreland says that led to a struggle with sheriff's department employees, a few gallery bystanders and the defendant, which ended with Patterson in handcuffs and sporting a rug burn. No one else was hurt.
Another prosecutor would have to take up the case, but Patterson could face new charges after what happened.
"I'm obviously not going to do anything on that as a potential witness," explains Westmoreland, "but he could be looking at some retaliation against a witness charges, which are third-degree felonies."
Westmoreland says the fact that it happened in front of a full courtroom doesn't hurt in terms of building a prosecutor's case.
"I don't think it was the wisest move on his part," Westmoreland says.
Patterson is set to be sentenced for the initial conviction on two counts of first-degree felony child sexual abuse and two counts of class A misdemeanor lewdness with a child on March 18.
Each of the first-degree felony charges carry potential sentences of up to life in prison.
E-mail: bbruce@ksl.com
