Jeff Patterson charged with unlawful sexual conduct with a
minor
San Martin – The former Ann Sobrato High School football coach was arraigned in Santa Clara County Superior Court Tuesday on charges of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and felony oral copulation with a minor.
Jeff J. Patterson, 32, is free on $10,000 bail. During Tuesday’s court appearance, Patterson spoke only once, in response to Judge Susan Bernardini’s asking him to verify his name and birth date. Patterson’s attorney, Larry Biegel, told Bernardini that his client waived the reading of the charges and agreed to return to court June 20 to enter a plea.
Biegel said neither he nor Patterson would comment on the case.
Patterson surrendered to Morgan Hill Police April 5 after Victoria Brown, supervisor of the Santa Clara County DA’s sexual assault team, filed charges against him after months of investigation.
Deputy District Attorney Steve Fein is prosecuting the case.
The incident that led to Patterson’s arrest occurred Nov. 4. Four days later, the father of a 17-year-old female Sobrato high student called Morgan Hill Police to report his daughter had had consensual sex with Patterson. He then took her to the police station where she told police she had skipped her sixth period class Nov. 4 and had gone for a ride in Patterson’s car, according to court records.
Patterson urged her to forge a note to get out of the class. She told police she then left campus and was on Burnett Avenue when Patterson stopped his car to pick her up. They then drove to the UPS store, the girl said, then to a parking lot on a “back road” where she performed oral sex, according to the records.
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106 ext. 202 or at md****@mo*************.com.
