Prosecutors dropped the charges against a Florida man who was arrested in August by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ elections police force for alleged voter fraud tied to the 2020 election.
According to the Miami Herald, prosecutors dropped the charges against Tampa resident Tony Patterson, 44, because of “information received” from the Hillsborough County elections supervisor and he was already facing a prison sentence in another case.
Patterson, a registered sex offender, was sentenced to a year in prison in September for failing to notify the local sheriff that he was driving a new vehicle within the 48 hour timeframe as required by state law.
In 2018, voters in Florida approved Amendment 4, a constitutional amendment that automatically restore the right to vote for people with prior felony convictions, except those convicted of murder and a felony sexual offense, or those who still owe fines or restitution. However, some felons were able to register to vote and were given legitimate voter IDs despite not meeting the requirements.
Patterson was one of the 20 felons who were arrested this summer by DeSantis’ election police force. Several of the people arrested say they were unaware they could not vote in the election.
“I thought felons were able to vote,” Patterson said in a bodycam footage during his arrest. “What you mean, I couldn’t vote? I don’t know this. How I’m supposed to know I can’t vote, man? And why y’all doing this now?”
Patterson is the second of the 20 people arrested to not face prosecution. Last month a Miami judge dismissed the case against Robert Lee Wood.
