WICHITA COUNTY ( KFDX/KJTL ) — The upcoming trial of Anthony Ryan Patterson for trafficking and sex crimes against children is once again delayed as the prosecution awaits the results of new forensic testing.
ANTHONY PATTERSON: The latest from the case and upcoming trial
Patterson, 47, of Wichita Falls , is the former president of a Wichita Falls automotive group who was first arrested in February 2021 and eventually indicted on 20 felony charges involving child trafficking and child sex crimes.
The impending trial, which has been plagued by delays since Patterson’s initial arrest , was set to begin on Monday, February 26, 2024, at the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center in Fort Worth.
However, a joint motion was filed on Thursday, January 25, 2024, with both the prosecution and Patterson’s defense team requesting that 78th District Court Judge Meredith Kennedy reset the trial date once again.
The motion said the prosecution sent items to the DPS Crime Lab in Lubbock for additional forensic testing after Judge Kennedy granted a trial continuance as jury selection was underway in Fort Worth in November 2023.