BREAKING NEWS: Would-be terrorist's "powerful" apology
Gregory Patterson seemed to be just your normal college kid. In 2005, he was 21 years old and studying liberal arts at California State University, Northridge. He came from a loving family and had no history of violence. Then he met Levar Washington, a former prison inmate who somehow lured Patterson into his terrorist cell and, with others, they plotted violent attacks on local military and Jewish targets.
Patterson was sentenced today to more than 12 years for his terrorist activities and for the armed robberies at 11 gas stations and convenience stores to fund their attack. Before U.S. District Court Judge Cormac Carney handed down his sentence, Patterson gave a tearful apology, which Carney called "very powerful:"
"I praise God. At least I feel like I owe several people a formal apology. I'm thoroughly embarrassed and appalled for my actions, for my offenses, for my crimes.
"I don't even recognize who I was three years ago. I wrote a letter to you to help you understand the person I've evolved into since my incarceration....
"Never in my life before meeting these people did I ever believe in violence, especially harming or targeting innocent civilians. I can't tell you how much I resent my actions. I've offended so many different people and also, what hurts the most, is I've even offended the God I believe in.
"I've misrepresented the religion that I've chosen for myself and my life....
"I'd like to formally apologize to my loving family for all the grief and sorrow I've cause you guys, especially my mother, father and sister. To my sister... I love you.... And I apologize to you for not being a consistent positive role model to you.
"Mom and dad, you taught me values such as tolerance, education, nonviolence. If I can assure you anything right now, (it's that) those values are deeply embedded into my heart more than ever."
Patterson then offered his apology to all branches of the U.S. Government and all the federal and state agencies who were involved in his case for all their hard work in protecting the American people "with extra hours on the street and in the office away from their families because of me and my recklessness.
"I'd also like to make an apology to the Jewish community for the harassment, fears or offenses that my foolishness, misguidance or cowardly actions caused. I also apologize to the Muslim community for any offenses, harassments or hardship I may have caused you all.
"Finally, I want to apologize to the American people in general for breaching your human rights to stability, safety and security and if I could guarantee and promise anything, it's that I will never allow anything like this to happen again.
"I promise to uphold the law, and respect the law."
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About the Blogger
Larry Altman has covered crime in the South Bay since 1990. He's seen it all - the missing model who turned up dead in the desert, the wives found dead in trunks, the high-school coaches who get a little too close to their players. He drives his young colleagues nuts with his "I remember when" stories. He welcomes your tips and observations about the present, and you can mix in a little Lakers basketball talk if you like.
E-mail Larry at larry.altman@dailybreeze.com.
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Gregory Patterson obviously put a lot of thought into this, it wease ver very well written, and it is obviously sincere I wish him the best.