A Perrysburg man who showed up for court with drugs in his system has been furloughed from jail to seek treatment.
Thomas Patterson, 33 was transported from the jail Tuesday to the courtroom of Wood County Common Pleas Judge Matt Reger.
He tested positive for cocaine and fentanyl after appearing for arraignment on June 6 and was taken to jail.
He posted the $50,000 bond but then on June 15, he tested positive for fentanyl during a random drug screen.
Patterson was arrested again on June 16.
Defense attorney Christopher Zografides said his client has said the test showed a false positive and a lab is double checking the findings.
The results are not yet in, he said, and requested Patterson be placed in a treatment facility.
It is imperative to get him into some sort of sober living now, to save his life, Zografides said.
Patterson was indicted in May for corrupting another with drugs, specifically heroin, after causing harm to another man on March 17, 2022.
The offense is a second-degree felony and could result in a prison sentence of up to eight years.
Zografides said his client previously had sought treatment on his own accord, but for some individuals, treatment doesn’t take the first time.
At this rate, Patterson probably will end up in prison or dead, he said.
Patterson “has an addiction that is overwhelming his life,” Reger said.
Wood County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Brian Boos said he had no objection to furloughing Patterson for treatment but said he should be transported there and back by a county deputy.
Reger set bond at $150,000 and approved the furlough to the Findlay Recovery Center for addiction treatment.
“He’s not to leave that facility with anyone for any reason,” Reger said.
Reger said he will reconsider bond at Patterson’s next court appearance, which was scheduled for July 25.
