Former Florence City Manager Michael Patterson has received an offer that contemplates misdemeanor pleas in response to allegations of sexual misconduct and stalking.
Patterson was arrested in November on two counts of stalking-emotional distress, a felony, along with sexual contact-no consent and providing alcohol to a minor, both misdemeanors.
Two separate lawsuits have been filed in U.S. District Court against the City of Florence and Patterson, claiming that Patterson’s alleged sexual harassment was ‘severe and pervasive’ and that city officials not only knew about the allegations, but they did not take any action.
The suits were filed by a former city employee and a current city employee.
In a separate case, a former employee successfully sued the city regarding a sexual harassment complaint that involved Patterson.
Patterson’s next court appearance for the criminal charges will be for either plea and sentencing or arraignment on July 11.
