Niles man gets prison time for assaulting girlfriend

NILES — A Niles man who severely beat his girlfriend last December was sentenced to prison Monday in Berrien County Trial Court at the Niles courthouse.

Brandon Patterson, 44, of Niles, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder and was sentenced to two concurrent terms of 38 months to five years in prison. He has credit for 60 days already served and must pay $316 in fines and costs.

He was also sentenced to time served for two contempt of court charges from trying to contact the victim when ordered not to.

The incident occurred Dec. 4, 2023 at a residence in Niles. Patterson previously served a prison term in Tennessee for an assault on another victim there in the past.

The victim spoke before sentencing and said that the incident had badly affected her and her family. She said that she had been in a relationship with Patterson since September, 2023 and that the abuse had gone from emotional to mental to physical.

“I was in a high level of stress with my father in hospice,” she said Monday in court. “I had been taking care of him for nine years and was also working and being a mom to my son. I felt I had found comfort with him and his assault complicated my grief. I felt like I was going to die from the actions of a person I thought loved me.”

“I am a shell of my former self,” she added. “I’m not sure if I will ever feel safe and secure again. I feel no hope for my future any longer. I thought I was going to die. I had to convince him I wouldn’t go to the police to escape. He said he would kill me and police officers I told what he did.”

The woman said she had bruises and contusions from her head to her feet, was kicked in the face and had two bald spots where Patterson pulled out her hair.

“I feel broken inside,” she said. “I was unable to sleep at night, I was convinced he would kill me. My life has changed forever. I hope one day he will feel the suffering I feel. I hope he suffers every day because I will for the rest of my life.”

Patterson apologized to the victim and her family. He said he had been doing good after getting out of prison in 2015 for another assault. “I bought a small farm in Tennessee,” he said. “I would like to get back to my life there as soon as possible.”

Patterson’s attorney, Ross Holec, said Patterson had mended his relationship with the earlier victim and described his client as a person who “made a very bad choice.” “He admits he has a problem dealing with his temper,” he said.

Berrien County Trial Court Judge Jennifer Smith said that while she gave Patterson some credit for entering and completing an anger management program, she was bothered by the fact that he violated his bond conditions twice by having contact with the victim.

“I appreciate you took the course but I can’t believe it had much impact on you if you walk out of court and have no remorse,” she said. “You walked out of court and smiled at her, knowing it would have a horrible effect on her. There’s no reason to believe your anger management course had any impact on you if you couldn’t control your behavior in front of a judge.”

“You are a danger to any person you come in contact with in a relationship,” she added. “This was a short relationship and you reached this level of violence. I don’t believe you lashed out and hit her in the heat of passion, you made the conscious choice to continue to beat her as she lay bleeding in a bathtub. Instead of being remorseful, you threatened her.”

Judge Smith said her only recourse was to lock him for the maximum length of time she could.

In other sentencings:

• Bobby Armstrong, Jr., 35, homeless, pleaded guilty to attempted assault with a dangerous weapon and was sentenced to 150 days in jail with credit for 89 days served and $258 in fines and costs. The incident occurred July 6, 2021 in Bertrand Township.
• Tyler Bybee, 31, of Buchanan, pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a motor vehicle and operating with a high blood alcohol level and was sentenced to two years probation, credit for eight days served, 90 days tether and $1,843 in fines and costs. The incident occurred May 21 in Buchanan.
• Rayshawn Holloway, 40, of South Bend, pleaded guilty to attempted resisting and obstructing police and second offense drunk driving and was sentenced to 18 months probation, credit for 110 days served and $2,076.87 in fines and costs. The incident occurred Jan. 6 in Niles.
• Michael Oliva, 57, of Mishawaka, pleaded guilty to third degree home invasion and was sentenced to 90 days in jail with credit for two days served and $658 in fines and costs. The incident occurred June 2 in Niles Township.
• Malik Rush, 25, of Gary, Ind., pleaded guilty to possession of a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle and was sentenced to 10 days in jail with credit for two days served and $258 in fines and costs. The incident occurred May 20 in Niles.

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