Patterson man sentenced for sexual battery charge

A judge sentenced a 32-year-old Patterson man, who pleaded guilty to sexual battery in January, to three years in prison under hard labor, according to St. Mary Parish clerk of court records.
Mark Hilliard, 32, of Patterson, was sentenced March 31 in the 16th Judicial District Court. Judge Lewis Pitman gave Hilliard credit for time served since his arrest on April 2, 2015.
Hilliard pleaded guilty Jan. 20 to the charge of sexual battery in a “best interest plea,” court records said.
On the motion of Assistant District Attorney Erica Rose, Pitman dismissed the charge of theft of $750 or more but less than $5,000 Hilliard faced in connection with the sexual battery.
Pitman also dismissed charges in other cases against Hilliard including possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, aggravated second-degree battery, possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana or synthetic cannabinoids second offense, possession of marijuana second offense and possession of drug paraphernalia first offense.
The sexual battery and theft charges stem from a March 21, 2015, incident in Patterson. Officers responded to a report of a man trying to rape a woman. The victim said that Hilliard arrived at her apartment, left the apartment and later returned asking to use her phone charger.
The victim let Hilliard into the apartment. But when she asked him to leave, he pulled her into a bedroom and tried to rape her, the affidavit said. The victim said Hilliard also choked her until she couldn’t breathe.
Hilliard continued to try to rape the victim until he finally ran out the door with her cellphone, the affidavit said.