District sentence follows brutal December attack, prosecutor says
INDIANAPOLIS — A Marion County judge on Friday ordered a 43-year prison sentence for a 45-year-old Indianapolis man convicted in the violent beating of his ex-girlfriend and the theft of her vehicle, the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office said.
Dennis Patterson was convicted June 2 on multiple counts, including criminal confinement, robbery resulting in bodily injury and domestic battery resulting in serious bodily injury, according to a probable cause affidavit filed by investigators and the prosecutor’s office statement.
The charges stem from an incident Dec. 9 in which Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department detectives were called to assist officers who had responded earlier to a domestic assault, the affidavit states. The woman told detectives the assault took place while the two were in her car and that Patterson choked her, "possibly on more than one occasion."
"[He] threatened to kill her and told her he would go to jail because of her," the affidavit states.
Medical and investigative records attached to the court case describe severe injuries the victim sustained. The affidavit lists:
- multiple facial fractures,
- a fractured vertebra,
- a broken nose, and
- bruising.
Patterson was found guilty by a jury and will serve his sentence in the custody of the Indiana Department of Correction, the prosecutor’s office said. Court documents show the convictions include aggravated elements tied to the severity of the victim’s injuries and the circumstances of the assault and vehicle theft.
Local implications and legal context
The case underscores ongoing concerns in Indianapolis about intimate-partner violence and the criminal justice response. Prosecutors cited both the physical injuries and the threat to the victim’s life in pursuing a lengthy prison term. The sentence reflects sentencing enhancements available under state law when domestic assaults result in serious bodily harm.
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police handled the investigative response, while Marion County prosecutors carried the case through trial. The Marion County court system — which handles violent felonies committed within the county — imposed the prison term following the jury verdict.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Defendant | Dennis Patterson, 45 |
| Offense date | Dec. 9 (year in court filings) |
| Convictions | Criminal confinement; robbery resulting in bodily injury; domestic battery resulting in serious bodily injury; others |
| Sentence | 43 years in Indiana Department of Correction |
Victims of domestic violence in Indianapolis can access community resources and law enforcement services. Local advocacy groups and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department maintain hotlines and support for those seeking protection or information on legal remedies, including restraining orders and emergency shelter placement.
What remains public and what is sealed
Prosecutors released details from the probable cause affidavit to explain the basis of the charges and the extent of the victim’s injuries. Certain victim-identifying information is routinely withheld from public filings to protect privacy; court records released to the media focus on the criminal conduct, the evidence presented at trial and the sentence imposed.
Patterson was ordered to serve his term within the state corrections system. The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office statement did not indicate whether the defendant plans to appeal. The case will remain on the public docket should any post-conviction filings be submitted.
The conviction and sentence are among several recent cases in Marion County involving severe domestic assaults that prosecutors have pursued as aggravated felonies. Community leaders and law enforcement officials say coordinated response and continued public awareness are essential to preventing similar incidents.
