Off-Duty LA Deputy Convicted of Crashing Motorcycle and Injuring Wife While Driving Drunk

An off-duty deputy with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department was convicted and sentenced today for crashing his motorcycle on the freeway ner Fountain Valley and injuring his wife while driving under the influence of alcohol.

Richard J. Patterson, 38, of West Covina, pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of driving with a blood alcohol .08 percent or more causing injury. He was sentenced to 45 days in jail, three years of informal probation, nine months of a first offender alcohol program, and completion of a Mother’s Against Drunk Driving Victim’s Impact Panel.

At about 6:25 p.m. on July 5 of last year, Patterson was driving a motorcycle while intoxicated northbound on Interstate 405 near Brookhurst Street in Fountain Valley. His wife was riding on the back of the motorcycle when he crashed into the back of a another moving vehicle.

Patterson and his wife were both transported to Western Medical Center, where he was treated for injuries to his hip and his wife suffered a knee injury and abrasions to her arms and hand. The occupants of the other vehicle were not injured.

Two hours after the crash, Patterson had blood alcohol level of .15 percent, almost twice the legal limit.