Former Florence City Manager Michael Patterson pleaded not guilty Monday in district court and requested a jury trial in response to allegations of sexual misconduct and harassment.
He had previously received an offer that contemplated misdemeanors.
Patterson, 55, was arrested in November on two counts of emotional abuse, a Class 5 felony; sexual contact: without consent, a class 1 misdemeanor; and furnishing alcohol to a minor, also a Class 1 misdemeanor.
On July 13, Assistant District Attorney Nicole Triola filed an amended complaint, charging Patterson with two new counts of harassment, each a Class 3 misdemeanor. Those charges stem from allegations from 19 October 2020 to February 25, 2021 and from May 12, 2021 to September 1, 2021.
In February, former U.S. District Judge Ramsey Lama granted the defense’s oral motion to allow the 11th Judicial District Attorney’s Office to drop the case and appoint a special prosecutor.
Two separate lawsuits have also been filed in US District Court against the city of Florence and Patterson, alleging that Patterson’s alleged sexual harassment was “severe and widespread” and that city officials were not only aware of the allegations , but did not take any action. .
The lawsuits were filed by a former city employee and a current city employee.
Both lawsuits allege that the City of Florence enabled Patterson’s “system of abuse,” which allegedly occurred during business hours at City Hall.
In a separate case, a former employee previously successfully sued the city over an allegation of sexual harassment involving Patterson.
Patterson was hired by the City of Florence in late 2011 and officially began his new job in January 2012 after moving to Florence from Redmond, Oregon. He was fired on August 31, 2021.
Patterson’s next court appearance is scheduled for 1 p.m. Oct. 20 for a pre-trial preparation conference. This is also the deadline for accepting any plea agreement.
District Court Judge Lynette Wenner set Patterson’s jury trial for Dec. 5-7.
