Covington Man Gets 2 Concurrent 20-Year Sentences Without Parole for Sexual Abuse of Teenager

District Attorney Collin Sims reports that on Thursday, December 12, 2025, Winston Bradford Patterson, age 40 and of Covington, was sentenced to two 20-year sentences – to run concurrently, without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence, by District Judge Scott Gardner. 

Patterson’s sentencing follows his conviction by a St. Tammany Parish jury on October 16, 2025, for Oral Sexual Battery of a Victim Under 15 and Molestation of a Juvenile. Assistant District Attorneys Taylor Nicholson and Gary Tromblay prosecuted the case. The jury delivered the guilty verdict after a four-day trial.

The charges stem from sexual crimes Patterson committed against his then-fiancée’s teenage daughter in 2022. A 13-year-old girl disclosed the abuse to a trusted adult, initiating an investigation by the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, led by then-Detective Nicholas Fishel.

Forensic interviewer Cally Huggins with the Children’s Advocacy Center’s Hope House conducted a critical interview with the victim. The victim detailed how Patterson initially gained her trust before progressively coercing her into various sexual acts over an extended period.

Patterson, when questioned, acknowledged having an improper relationship with the victim. Family members described Patterson as being “overly interested” in the victim and found his interactions “odd.”

At the sentencing hearing, Judge Gardner noted the heinous nature of the abuse of trust and authority by Patterson against a vulnerable family member. Due to Patterson’s two convictions and taking into account his history of prior drug-related convictions, Judge Gardner imposed the maximum sentences possible under the law, resulting in the 20-year sentence without parole eligibility.

District Attorney Sims stated, “This sentence reflects the seriousness of the offenses and the profound breach of trust involved. While it ensures the offender will be incarcerated for a significant period of time, the lasting harm inflicted on the victim cannot be measured by any term of imprisonment. Our office remains committed to pursuing accountability and justice in every case involving the exploitation of children.”