Jury sentenced a Conroe Habitual Offender to 40 Years for Assault Family Violence-Strangulation

CONROE, TX -- On Thursday, December 9, 2021, a jury in the 9th District Court, the Honorable Phil Grant presiding, sentenced Walter Henry Paterson to forty (40) years in prison for the offense of Assault Family Violence—Strangulation. The jury deliberated on guilt for less than one hour, then heard testimony concerning Paterson, previous felony convictions and extraneous offenses before returning the forty-year sentence.

On April 9, 2021, the Paterson family was at their home in Conroe when Paterson began drinking heavily. Things began to escalate when he became agitated with the children over undone chores. Paterson's wife tried to intervene, but Paterson violently assaulted her in front of their children. During the assault Paterson put his hands around his wife's neck, applying enough pressure to prevent her from being able to breathe. He continued to assault his wife several more times that night. The victim and her children escaped their home the night of the assault and sought safety with a family friend. Prosecutors presented expert testimony regarding domestic violence, strangulation, and the lethality associated with assaults involving strangulation. Prosecutors also presented an audio recording that captured the horrific abuse as it was occurring. Det J. Minchew with the Conroe Police Department investigated this case.

During the punishment phase of the trial, Assist. District Attorney Tamara Tyler and Chief Prosecutor Laura Bond presented evidence that the Defendant had previously been convict. of Possession of a Controlled Substance and Manufacture/Delivery of a Controlled Substance, making him a habitual offender facing 25-99 or life punishment range. The jury also heard evidence of prior assaults by Paterson against his wife and of continued misconduct by Paterson in the jail while awaiting trial.

Assistant District Attorney Tamara Tyler: 'This jury was able to do what few juries can do, which was to hear the horror of abuse while it was happening. The jury's response was the response of any good neighbor and good citizen when confronted with abuse—they firmly and forcefully put a stop to it by holding the abuser accountable and sending him to a place where hurting his family is no longer within his grasp. We are grateful for their action, and now our sincere hope is that the family can begin to heal .”


District Attorney Brett Ligon: - “Walter Paterson has persistently demonstrated his disregard for the law and the lives of others. His family bore the brunt of his hatred and abuse, and there is every reason to believe his violence would have escalated until someone was dead, something we have seen too many times. Fortunately, a brave woman, a responsive law enforcement agent, a committed district attorney's office, and a resolute jury put an end to his malice