Patterson man pleads to sexual battery; gets 7 charges dismissed

A 32-year-old Patterson man has pleaded guilty to a March 2015 sexual battery charge and had another seven charges against him dismissed as part of a plea deal.
Mark Hilliard, 32, of Patterson, pleaded guilty Jan. 20 to the charge of sexual battery in a “best interest plea,” according to St. Mary Parish Clerk of Court records.
On the motion of Assistant District Attorney Erica Rose, Judge Lewis 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 affidavit said.
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, an affidavit said. The victim said that Hilliard arrived at her apartment, left the apartment and later returned asking to use her phone charger, the affidavit stated.
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, according to the affidavit.
Hilliard continued to try to rape the victim until he finally ran out the door with her cellphone, the affidavit said.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office narcotics detectives arrested Hilliard April 2, 2015, on the Patterson police warrant charging him with sexual battery and theft, the charge of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and a warrant for failure to appear.
Pitman scheduled Hilliard’s sentencing hearing for March 8.