Cedric Hagerty Patterson, 27, of Naples, was found guilty as charged of Lewd or Lascivious Battery. The jury returned the guilty verdict this morning, following a two-day trial in
Collier County.
In June 2021, the defendant was arrested following an investigation by the Collier County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Section. They were contacted by the Collier County Sheriff’s Office Correctional Investigations Section, which helps oversee the Naples Jail Center. The defendant was in jail on an unrelated case and exchanged hundreds of emails and phone calls, many sexually explicit in nature, with a girl, who was confirmed to be a child.
The victim’s family was contacted by law enforcement and an investigation revealed the defendant had met the child on social media. The defendant then went to a residence and committed a lewd battery on the child prior to his incarceration.
Assistant State Attorney Jennifer Brown and Assistant State Attorney Lawrence Raab prosecuted the case. Sentencing is scheduled for January 19, 2023.
Samantha Syoen – Communications Director, State Attorney’s Office