60 days of work release for having oral sex with a student? What
kind of message does that send?
The sentence of 60 days in a county jail’s work release program that was given to Jeff Patterson for felony oral copulation with a minor is too light.
Patterson, 32, was the head football coach and a math teacher at Sobrato High School. He was charged after a Nov. 4, 2005 incident in which Patterson urged the victim, a 17-year-old student, to forge a note to leave class, picked her up in his car and drove to the intersection of two county roads, where they had oral sex. He entered a plea of no contest.
Patterson’s attorney, Larry Biegel, made references to “difficulties” his client faced and “incredible strengths he’s developed.” But how does that justify the sentence?
Deputy District Attorney Steve Fein said that the fact that the sex was consensual and that the victim was almost 18 were likely factors that Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Kenneth Shapero considered when he imposed the sentence.
We suspect that insufficient weight was given to the most pertinent fact: Patterson was in a position of authority and trust, and he abused that trust.
Sleeping 60 nights in a county jail – which is what a work release program amounts to – is simply insufficient for the abuse of that trust.
As a society, we compel parents to educate their children. Every parent ought to know that the people who work at schools are worthy of their trust. Every school employee ought to know that they’ll pay a hefty price for violating that trust.
We’re not advocating that Patterson be required to register as a sex offender – that designation needs to be reserved for those deemed most likely to offend again. If sex offender registration is used too widely, it loses its meaning.
However, in addition to spending a much longer time away from society, Patterson’s sentence also should have included:
– Lifetime requirement that Patterson never work in any capacity with young people. His felony conviction should prevent him from teaching in any school, public or private. But will that restrict him from being a youth counselor, volunteer coach, math tutor, youth group leader, or in any capacity that puts him in contact with young people?
– Reimbursement to the City of Morgan Hill, the Morgan Hill Unified School District and Santa Clara County for costs incurred dealing with what Patterson’s attorney called a “significant error in judgment.”
– Reimbursement to the victim’s family for counseling costs.
In addition to victimizing a vulnerable 17-year-old student, Patterson abused the trust of the community, which honored him with a position of authority and respect as a teacher and football coach.
Six months in a county jail’s work release program simply doesn’t begin to address the damage Patterson caused with his violation of that trust. It doesn’t serve as the kind of warning needed to others who might be tempted to follow a similar path that this community won’t tolerate that kind of behavior. Too bad.
