VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — A Terre Haute man facing felony charges in relation to his arrest as part of a Vigo County Sheriff’s Office sting in February had a pre-trial conference Wednesday.
Bryan A. Patterson, 30, of Terre Haute has been charged with level 4 felony child solicitation as well as attempted dissemination of matter harmful to minors, a level 6 felony.
According to court documents, the charges stem from an operation on Feb. 19 during which the Vigo County Sheriff’s Office worked with Predator Catchers Incorporated to meet with a dozen men who reportedly thought they were meeting children for sexual activity.
Police said Patterson met with a decoy he thought was a 14-year-old boy at an area business before then traveling to the decoy’s house where he was placed under arrest. When arrested Patterson reportedly was in possession of lubricant and condoms and had made it clear in text messaging that he had planned to have sex with the boy.
Predator Catchers Inc. gave police an SD card containing chat logs from previous conversations between the decoy “Jacob” and Patterson over text messaging and the mobile app Grindr.
Jail records indicate Patterson has been in custody since his February arrest with a bond set at $35,000 with no 10% allowed.
Wednesday, Patterson appeared before Judge Michael J. Lewis in Vigo County Superior Court 6 for a pretrial conference where his August 28 jury trial date was confirmed.
