Story Archive

The Defense Rests

Jake Patterson, 21, liked the looks of a girl he saw getting on a school bus, and decided he was going to “take her.” After following her around for a few days, he grabbed the 13-year-old at her home in near Barron, Wisc. When the girl’s parents tried to protect her, he killed them. After three months of captivity, the girl escaped. Now, Patterson’s attorneys say it’s going to be difficult for him to get a fair trial. “So many different people have had not only an interest in the case,” says attorney Richard Jones, “but an actual involvement in the case, being part of the search, those things, being part of fundraisers. They’ve had physical, tangible involvement in the case. The question becomes, ‘Can you lay that involvement, that emotion aside and render a verdict based on this case?’ In that county, I think that could be extremely difficult.” And then there’s the other defense problem. Jones’ partner, Charlie Glynn, says Patterson gave the detective in the case “a very thorough confession.” (RC/AP) ...Here’s a wild idea for a tactic: how about pleading guilty?