A Little Milligan man is in jail after state probation officials said he violated the terms of his community supervision as a registered sex offender by possessing pornography and drugs and also by failing to comply with travel restrictions.
Officers of the Carter County Sheriff’s Department arrested Patrick Dale Potter, 36, of 4629 Highway 321, Butler, on a warrant charging him with violation of community supervision for life.
In 1999, Potter was convicted of rape of a child in Blount County, and a result of that conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender. Under state law, Potter is classified as a “violent” offender and, as such, is required to remain on community supervision for the remainder of his life.
Registered sex offenders, and particularly those on community supervision for life, have a set of rules and regulations they must abide by, including restrictions on where they may live, work and visit, as well as restrictions on travel. Offenders also are barred from possessing things such as pornography or devices that can access the Internet.
In the warrant for Potter’s arrest, Tennessee Department of Corrections Probation and Parole Officer Jeremiah Woodby said Potter violated the terms of his supervision.
On August 29, Woodby conducted a search of Potter’s home and said he found prohibited items.
“(Potter) was found in possession of at his residence of pornographic DVDs, three laptops, a smart device, two meth pipes and marijuana,” Woodby said, adding Potter admitted “to smoking a joint” just before Woodby arrived.
Potter also violated travel restrictions placed on him under the community supervision for life, Woodby said.
“On August 28, 2015, the defendant was advised that he is not allowed to leave his residence between the hours of 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. every day,” Woodby said. Just a few days after receiving those instructions, Woodby said Potter’s GPS tracking ankle bracelet showed that Potter left his home at 6:55 a.m. and drove to a home in the Poga community.
Following his arrest, Potter was taken to the Carter County Detention Center.
Potter appeared in Carter County General Sessions Court on Wednesday and was arraigned. Judge Keith Bowers appointed the Public Defender’s Office to represent Potter and set the next court appearance for Sept. 8. Bowers also set Potter’s bond at $5,000.
This most recent arrest is not the first time Potter has been charged with violating the terms of the sex offender registry. In 2013, Potter was convicted in Carter County of violation community supervision for life.