An off-duty Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy who allegedly rammed his motorcycle into a vehicle while drunk, faces up to three years in state prison.
Richard J. Patterson, 38, faces multiple charges: a felony count of driving under the influence causing injury (his wife, who was on the back of the motorcycle, was injured) and another for driving with a blood alcohol level of .08 percent or higher causing injury, according to a press release put out by the Orange County District Attorney's office. There's a sentencing enhancement in the case, because his blood alcohol level was .15, almost twice the legal limit.
Around 6:30 p.m. on July 5, Patterson was heading north on the 405 near Brookhurst Street, when he allegedly smashed his motorcycle into the back of a car. Although the people in the car weren't hurt, both Patterson and his wife, who hurt her knee, arm and hand, were hospitalized with injuries.
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Patterson's arraignment is slated for tomorrow morning at the West Justice Center in Westminster and he faces anywhere from probation to three years in state prison, the news release says.
Sgt. Pauline Panis, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, said she couldn't comment on Patterson's employment status or whether he was being paid.
