by: Joshua Hoggard
On November 20, 2024, Anthony Ryan Patterson, 48, of Wichita Falls, was sentenced to a total of 33 years in prison after being convicted on five charges related to human trafficking and child sex crimes. The Tarrant County jury found Patterson guilty of one count of trafficking of a person, three counts of indecency with a child, and one count of sexual performance by a child.
The sentences for Patterson’s crimes are as follows:
- Trafficking of a Person (Count 4): 10 years in prison
- Indecency with a Child by Exposure (Counts 5, 6, and 7): 5 years in prison each
- Sexual Performance by a Child (Count 10): 18 years in prison
After deliberating for just over two hours, the jury recommended that the sentences for Counts 5, 6, 7, and 10 be served consecutively, which was granted by Judge Kennedy, as Count 4 is not eligible for stacking under the law at the time of the crime. As a result, Patterson faces a total of 33 years in prison.
This sentence is a significant outcome in the fight against human trafficking and child exploitation in Texas.