Last Tuesday, after a 2-day jury trial, Dennis Patterson of Deer Park was convicted of two crimes in Superior Court. One was Disorderly Conduct and the other Interference with Court Process. Superior Court usually hears felony cases and these are misdemeanor charges, but it was my decision to file these cases in Superior Court instead of District Court. I did so because the offences are serious. They strike at the very heart of the judicial process.

The charges arose out of an incident that occurred in the District Court room last January. The evidence consisted of video and the audio recordings of what went on in the courtroom that day, as well as witnesses who saw what happened. The evidence showed that Mr. Patterson disrupted court by refusing to be quiet and reading some speech instead of allowing Judge Tievt to conduct court business. He refused orders to stop talking over her and then refused to leave the courtroom. Stevens County Sheriff deputies were present and arrested him and two other persons.

All three persons were prosecuted on the same charges. The other two folks reached an agreement with the state, but Mr. Patterson asserted his right to have the state prove the case to a jury.

Mr. Patterson also asserted another Constitutional right in that he insisted on representing himself. Judge Nielson advised him of the difficulties involved and he accepted them, but he was assigned an attorney as “standby” counsel to assist him in limited ways. Mr. Patterson filed several pretrial motions and represented himself in those hearings. The hearings primarily dealt with issues related to what evidence would be admissible for the jury to hear. This is standard procedure in all criminal cases.

Mr. Patterson made an opening statement to the jury in which he laid out his case and his defense to the charges. At the trial, Mr. Patterson exercised his right not to testify in his own behalf, and presented his case through testimony of other persons. He participated in the jury instruction conferences and made closing statements to the jury.

The jury saw the videos and heard the audio recording and listened to the witnesses. They deliberated about 20 minutes and found Patterson guilty on both charges. He will be sentenced on Tuesday the 21st of April. Deputy Prosecutors Jess Taylor and Lech Radzimski represented the state.