Father sentenced to 40 to 60 years for sexual abuse and solicitation
Published: Wednesday, February 13, 2008
The Oakland Press
http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2008/02/13/local/20080213-archive20.txt
A 48-year-old Milford man accused of sexually abusing his daughter, starting when she was a child, and of helping her advertise her services as a prostitute as an adult, professed his innocence Tuesday in a tense courtroom.
But Oakland Circuit Judge Shalina Kumar exceeded sentencing guidelines and sent William Pattison to prison for 40-60 years.
Pattison was convicted last month of four counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of pandering.
Assistant Oakland County Prosecutor Nicki Weisberger said several years of sexual abuse began when Pattison's daughter was just 4 or 5. Later, when she was an adult, he was accused of helping her set up a posting on the Web site Craigslist that advertised her services as a prostitute, an activity from which he kept the money.
"The sheer volume of the criminal acts defy reason," Weisberger said.
Pattison's daughter, Bridget Pittmann, 27, said the prostitution was one of many things her father made her do in order for her to be allowed to see her own daughter. Pittmann had lost custody of her daughter because of drug use and Pattison's ex-wife got custody of the girl.
The Oakland Press does not normally print the names of sexual abuse victims but Pittmann gave her consent.
Pittmann said in court Tuesday that Pattison caused her to have a "life of horror." She said that she was pleased with his sentence.
"I'm happy because I think, with that amount of time, he won't be able to harm any other children," she said.
Milford police officers began investigating Pattison in summer 2006, when another one of his relatives came forward with allegations that he had raped her. Around the same time, police were alerted to a business card and a posting on the popular Web site Craigslist advertising a woman's sexual services
Police officers contacted the woman listed on the business card -- later discovered to be Pattison's daughter -- and set up a meeting in Milford with an undercover officer. She was arrested and convicted of a misdemeanor prostitution charge.
Police learned through investigating the relative's claims that his daughter also may have been abused. Pittmann denied the abuse at first but, fearing that Pattison might harm her daughter, eventually told officers about her experiences.
In court Tuesday, Pattison said he didn't think he received a fair trial.
"Your honor, I didn't commit any of these offenses," he said.
Kumar told Pattison that she believes that he's incapable of taking responsibility for his actions.
The sentencing guidelines called for Pattison to serve a minimum sentence of 10-25 years. In exceeding the top end of that range by 15 years, Kumar said the guidelines did not account for various elements of the case, such as Pattison using his job as a corrections officer to instill fear in his daughter. Pattison formerly worked for the Michigan Department of Corrections as a corrections officer at a facility in Plymouth.
Pattison's attorney, Daniel Randazzo, said he thinks the sentence is unjustly excessive. Randazzo believes Pattison is innocent and said he plans to appeal both the conviction and sentence.
Pattison will get credit for 536 days already served.
Supporters of Pittmann and Pattison filled opposite sides of the tense courtroom for the hearing. After Kumar announced the sentence, Pittmann's supporters clapped.
Pattison is also facing criminal charges for allegedly abusing the relative and a woman with whom he has a young child. Trial dates have not yet been set in either case.
Officer Sentenced for Pushing Daughter Into Prostitution
A former corrections officer is sentenced for sexually abusing his daughter and pushing her into prostitution.
Posted: 10:54 AM Feb 13, 2008
Reporter: AP
http://www.wilx.com/news/headlines/15585687.html
PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) - A former corrections officer from Oakland County has been sentenced to 40 to 60 years in prison for sexually abusing his teenage daughter and encouraging her to advertise as an escort online.
An Oakland County jury on Tuesday found 48-year-old William Pattison of Milford guilty of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and pandering.
The daughter, now 27, tells police the abuse started in the eighth grade. She says Pattison suggested she become a prostitute when she became old enough.
The Detroit News reports Pattison helped set up a Web site and would pick up the money she earned.
The Oakland Press reports Milford police began investigating Pattison in 2006, when another relative came forward with rape allegations.
Pattison's attorney said he plans to appeal.
Two men to be sentenced this afternoon for sexual assaults
Published: Tuesday, February 12, 2008
The Oakland Press
http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2008/02/12/police/20080212-archive1.txt
Two men convicted of sexual assaults will be sentenced this afternoon before Oakland Circuit Judge Shalina Kumar.
One man broke into a girl's home and assaulted her, and the other was convicted of pimping out and abusing his daughter.
Timothy Willis Jeffrey, 39, of Cleveland, Ohio, was accused of taking an 8-year-old girl from her home and then sexually abusing her on a roof in South Lyon. A guest of a cousin, the Ohio native pleaded no contest last month to one count of kidnapping, one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, two counts of second degree criminal sexual conduct, one count of assault with intent to commit penetration and one count of resisting and obstructing a police officer.
He entered the plea as part of an agreement that his sentence will range from 25 to 40 years.
Also due before Kumar today is William Pattison, a 48-year-old Milford man who was convicted last month of sexually abusing his daughter as a teen and helping her as an adult advertise her services as a prostitute via the Internet. Pattison previously worked for the Michigan Department of Corrections as a corrections officer at a facility in Plymouth.
Pattison was convicted of four counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of pandering. He faces up to life in prison.
Both men are in the Oakland County Jail.
Dad guilty of abuse, fostering prostitution
Published: Friday, January 18, 2008
The Oakland Press
http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2008/01/18/local/20080118-archive18.txt
A former Michigan Department of Corrections officer has been convicted of sexually abusing his daughter as a teen and helping her as an adult advertise her services as a prostitute via the Internet.
William Pattison, a 48-yearold from Milford, also faces allegations that he sexually abused two other women.
Milford police officers began investigating Pattison in summer 2006, when another relative came forward with allegations that he had raped her, said Milford police Detective Lt. Tom Callahan.
Around the same time, police were alerted to a business card and a posting on the popular Web site Craigslist advertising a woman's sexual services.
Police officers contacted the woman - later discovered to be Pattison's daughter - listed on the business card, and set up a meeting in Milford with an undercover officer. She was arrested and convicted of a misdemeanor prostitution charge. Police learned through investigating the relative's claims that his daughter also may have been abused, and she eventually told officers that Pattison sexually abused her for a few years, starting when she was in middle school.
Callahan said that when Pattison's daughter was an adult, he suggested she start working as a prostitute to earn extra money and use the Internet to advertise her services. Callahan said Pattison helped set up the Web posting and put pictures of his daughter on it.
The daughter, now 27, told police that Pattison would periodically pick up the money she earned, and would give some of it back to her whenever she needed to buy something.
A jury convicted Pattison this week of four counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of pandering. Oakland Circuit Judge Shalina Kumar will sentence him Feb. 5.
Callahan said along with Pattison's relative, who is now 18, a woman in her early 20s with whom Pattison has a young child also has accused him of sexual abuse. Those cases are pending.
Pattison has worked for the Michigan Department of Corrections as a corrections officer at a facility in Plymouth. His attorney, Daniel Randazzo, did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
Cop Pimps His Own Daughter in Small Town
February 17, 2007
Digital Journal
http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/117864/Cop_Pimps_His_Own_Daughter_in_Small_Town
In one of the most unusual cases that Milford police have ever investigated, authorities say that William Pattison advertised his daughter's services on the Internet, printed business cards and then set her up as a prostitute.
Bridgette was arrested for prostitution in a small, quaint town in Michigan. Much to the surprise of the authorities who led the sting operation her pimp was her own father, an auxillary cop and a prisons corrections officer. Bridgette stated that her father had been molesting her since she was four or five years old. He wanted to start making money with her after getting the idea from the internet. He forced his own daughter to sell herself for a hundred dollars per "john".
Before the prostitution she went to jail for drugs and shoplifting after having a child at the age of twenty. Her father's wife took custody of Bridgette's daughter. Bridgette ended up losing all parental rights, and was at the mercy of her father for visitation of her young daughter. This is how her dad was able to force her into being a prostitute.
Bridgette's daughter is now seven years old. Has this little girl's grandfather been molesting her as he started doing to his own daughter when she was young? Bridgette's lawyer is fighting to get custody away from the wife of William P
Milford woman tells cops her pimp, abuser: it's dad.
September 22, 2006
Detroit Free Press
Byline: Frank Witsil
http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-20050109_ITM
Sep. 22--A 26-year-old woman is sitting in the Oakland County Jail today, serving a sentence for prostitution. And now prosecutors say they are going after her pimp -- her dad.
In one of the most unusual cases that Milford police have ever investigated, authorities say that William Pattison, 47, advertised his daughter's services on the Internet, printed business cards and then set her up as a prostitute. Pattison, a former Michigan corrections officer, also is charged with forcing four females -- including his daughter -- to have sex with him.
"It's a mess," police Lt. Tom Callahan said Thursday. The investigation report, which began in July, is more than 5 inches thick -- and detectives are still trying to determine whether there may be other victims, Callahan said. "If everything that is alleged is true, he's pretty sick," he said.
Pattison is in the Oakland County Jail on $1.2 million bond. He faces one count of pandering, a felony punishable by up to 20 years, and several counts of criminal sexual conduct, including first degree, which carries a maximum penalty of up to life in prison.
He was arraigned Monday in district court in Novi and is due back at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 9 for a preliminary examination. Pattison's attorney, Daniel Randazzo, did not return a call Thursday seeking comment.
Until now, Milford was mostly known as site of a search for Jimmy Hoffa's body this summer. Residents said Thursday they were shocked to learn of the prostitution case. Kevin Olszewski, 35, who lives on the same street where the prostitute lived, said Milford is an unlikely place to find prostitution -- especially charges that a father acted as his daughter's pimp. "That sounds unusual anywhere," he said.
The daughter is getting treatment for substance abuse and psychological treatment in jail. Douglas Barnett, a clinical psychology professor at Wayne State, said "it may be hard for her to know how abnormal this is if this is how she's grown up."
The Free Press typically does not print the names of alleged sexual abuse victims and is withholding the woman's name for publication.
The woman pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor prostitution charge this summer.
Police got a tip from a man who saw a suspicious personal ad on a Web site. The woman's attorney, Bill Urich, said that his client initially was reluctant to say anything to police about her father's involvement in her crime. But, Urich said, as the evidence mounted against Pattison, the woman agreed to cooperate with detectives and gave a full account.
Urich cited another issue: The woman had lost custody of her young daughter, who was then in Pattison's custody. The father made her "do things she wouldn't do, by preventing her from having contact with her daughter," Urich said. There are no allegations of sexual abuse involving the granddaughter, and she is in the care of the state, Urich said.
COMMENT FROM:
This is just too sad:
Merrilee Comstock said...
Not only did the court continue to let Bill's EX-WIFE, Denise Pattison, continue to have custody; they also allowed her to adopt our baby without even giving us notice. . .like they said they would at every hearing we were at!!! Talk about INJUSTICE HERE. . .Yes, Bill is in jail. . .but HIS HELPER, aka his EX-WIFE Denise Pattison, now has adopted our young girl when we - her blood family (I'm her great aunt. . .her REAL aunt) - have done NOTHING WRONG!!! WHY?!?!?!?!? Oh, yea, he was sentenced 02-12-2007 with 4 CSC 1ST Degree x 2 + 3RD Degree x 1 charges & jailed for 40-60 yrs currently, 1 charge of Pandering & 3 more 1ST, CSC charges & jailed for 20 years currently at Oak Correctional Facility verify at: http://www.state.mi.us/mdoc/asp/otis2profile.asp?mdocNumber=659881
The only thing missing is HER mdoc number next to HIS!!! Instead she was awarded our baby for her part in his dastardly deeds as she testified to !~(
http://michiganoidv.blogspot.com/2006/09/reserve-officer-william-patterson.html
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