Jury trial appears to be coming next year for the former Emporia Police Officer who was arrested for suspected human trafficking activity not related to his time in uniform.
Russell Paul Patterson Jr. was in Lyon County District Court for a motions hearing Thursday morning. During that time, a final pretrial hearing date was set for 4 pm January 29.
If all goes according to plan, jury trial could begin February 3. Patterson was arrested on suspicion of aggravated human trafficking and rape back in August.
He is currently facing single charges of aggravated human trafficking, commercial sexual exploitation of a child and rape. Patterson was an officer from March to December 2017 and was released from employment before he completed his training.
The reason or reasons behind his release are not being divulged. Back in August, Emporia Police Captain Ray Mattas told KVOE News that Patterson’s arrest was part of an investigation unrelated to his time in uniform and there was “no conflict of interest” as Patterson’s time with the department ended nearly seven years prior.
