Authorities in Iredell County have charged 65 year-old John Thomas Patterson with over 110 separate sex charges. This is the second time in about two weeks that Patterson has been arrested for sex offenses with minors. Records show that from 1978 until 1987, Patterson was a 4th grade teacher at Mount Mourne Elementary School in Iredell County. Now, has over 20 of his former students have stepped forward to that say that Patterson molested them while they were his students.
The case snowballed after Patterson, a resident of Mooresville, was first arrested for molesting four of his former male students in mid-February. The alleged incidents took place during the 1980’s, and prosecutors charged Patterson with 14 counts of taking indecent liberties with a minor.
However, since that arrest 16 more of Patterson’s former students, both male and female, have admitted that they were molested. Some of the reported incidents occurred as far back as the 1970’s. Patterson resigned from the school system in 1987. Most of his victims were within the ages of nine to 11 at the time the crimes were committed.
Patterson is currently facing a minimum of 110 charges, including one count of first-degree sex offense. After his first arrest, Patterson was able to meet his $100,000 bond. However, he was arrested again on Thursday and remains jailed in Iredell County under a $350,000 bond.
