Kellyton couple arrested for child abuse, sexual torture
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Terry Lynn Patterson
Deborah Sue Patterson
By Christa Jennings
Senior Staff Writer
A Kellyton couple was arrested late last month on child abuse, sexual torture and other charges relating to a case involving their grandchildren.
Investigator Scott Hammond reported that on April 25 Deborah Sue Patterson, 70 years old, was arrested and charged with two counts of willful abuse of a child.
On the same day, 63-year-old Terry Lynn Patterson was arrested and charged with two counts of sexual torture of a child, two counts of sexual abuse of a child less than 12 years old and one count of first-degree rape.
Mrs. Patterson’s total bond for her two charges was set at $30,000, and she was released on bond the following day to await trial.
Mr. Patterson’s total bond for all five charges was set at $20,000, and he was released on bond April 28 to await trial.
Both were arrested on grand jury indictments and had not been arrested prior to that in connection with this case.
The Sheriff’s Office initially received a report in reference to children in the Pattersons’ custody. The Sheriff’s Office proceeded to conduct an investigation and collect evidence, and that evidence was then presented to the grand jury.
Based on that evidence and information from the investigation, the grand jury returned an indictment, and the Pattersons were then arrested.
According to Hammond, the Alabama Department of Human Resources had contacted the Sheriff’s Office about “a case involving the abuse of a child under the age of 12.”
“The Coosa County Sheriff’s Office, along with DHR, continued investigating the case, which resulted in a forensic interview whereby evidence revealed that Terry Patterson and Deborah Patterson of Kellyton were responsible for abusing their two grandchildren,” Hammond stated.
Hammond added that information regarding the case was revealed during counseling after the children were adopted by a family in Alabama.
Regarding Mrs. Patterson’s charges, the Code of Alabama Section 26-15-3 defines “torture, willful abuse, etc. of a child under 18 years of age by a responsible person” as “a responsible person… who shall torture, willfully abuse, cruelly beat, or otherwise willfully maltreat any child under the age of 18 years shall, on conviction, be guilty of a Class C felony.”
Further, in the case of Padgett v. State, it was determined that “a willful act is one done intentionally, knowingly and purposely, without justifiable excuse, as distinguished from an act done carelessly, thoughtlessly, heedlessly, or inadvertently.”
Sentencing for a Class C felony includes a term of imprisonment of not more than 10 years or less than one year and one day.
Regarding Mr. Patterson’s five charges, the Code of Alabama Section 13A-6-65.1, states that a person commits the crime of sexual torture, in part, “…by penetrating the vagina or anus or mouth of a person who is less than 12 years old with an inanimate object, by a person who is 16 years old or older with the intent to sexually torture or to sexually abuse.”
The crime of sexual torture is a Class A felony.
Regarding the charge of sexual abuse of a child less than 12 years old, the Code of Alabama Section 13A-6-69.1 reads, “A person commits the crime of sexual abuse of a child less than 12 years old if he or she, being 16 years old or older, subjects another person who is less than 12 years old to sexual contact.”
Sexual abuse of a child less than 12 years old is a Class B felony. Upon conviction, a Class B felony carries a sentence with a term of imprisonment of not more than 20 years or less than two years.
Regarding the charge of first-degree rape, the Code of Alabama Section 13A-6-61 defines it, in part, as “a person commits the crime of rape in the first degree if… he or she, being 16 years or older, engages in sexual intercourse with a member of the opposite sex who is less than 12 years old.”
Like sexual torture, rape in the first degree is a Class A felony. Upon conviction, sentences for Class A felonies include a term of imprisonment up to a life sentence or between 10 and 99 years.
Anyone who suspects or observes illegal activity is encouraged to report it to the Coosa County Sheriff’s Office at 256-377-4911 or online at www.coosacountyso.org. Anonymous tips are also welcome.
