A Georgia mother is standing her ground after being arrested on child endangerment charges stemming from her 10-year-old son’s unsupervised walk into a nearby town.
Brittany Patterson, 41, of Mineral Bluff, Georgia, was detained by the Fannin County Sheriff’s Department on October 30 when her son, Soren, left their home and walked less than a mile to town without adult supervision.
Mother is fighting charges after her 10-year old son walked to town alone.pic.twitter.com/8wjWU9Ntg2
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According to reports from NBC News, the incident began when the sheriff’s department contacted Patterson to inform her that her son was spotted alone in Mineral Bluff, a small community near the North Carolina border.
Despite the unexpected call, Patterson wasn’t alarmed about her son’s safety, given the nature of the rural area.
“It’s not a super dangerous or even dangerous-at-all stretch of road,” Patterson explained. “I wasn’t terrified for him or scared for his safety.” The road from their home to the town is a familiar, low-traffic route, making her feel comfortable with her son walking it alone.
The situation escalated when deputies escorted Soren back home, only to return hours later to arrest Patterson in front of her family.
She was charged with reckless conduct and taken into custody, leaving her children distressed as they watched their mother being handcuffed. Patterson posted a $500 bond and was released, but she expressed deep frustration over the ordeal.
“It was infuriating and heartbreaking to have my children witness me being taken away in handcuffs,” Patterson said. “I believe this entire situation is unjust.”
Following her arrest, the Fannin County Sheriff’s Office offered Patterson a chance to have the charges dropped if she agreed to sign a form outlining a safety plan for her children.
However, Patterson rejected the deal, insisting that she did nothing wrong and that signing the agreement would be an admission of guilt.
“This is not right. I did nothing wrong,” she stated emphatically. “I’m going to fight this because I believe the charges are completely unwarranted.”
Patterson’s attorney has also questioned the sheriff’s department’s handling of the case, arguing that the situation was blown out of proportion.
The legal team plans to challenge the charges in court, asserting that the child was never in danger and that Patterson’s actions were well within the bounds of responsible parenting.
The case has sparked debate over parental rights and the boundaries of child supervision, particularly in rural areas where children often have more freedom to roam.
Patterson’s refusal to accept the plea deal highlights her determination to clear her name and push back against what she sees as an overreach by law enforcement.
“I’m fighting this not just for myself, but for parents everywhere who trust their kids and believe in giving them a bit of independence,” Patterson said. “It’s about standing up for what’s right.”