A private group home staff member was arrested last weekend and charged with several serious offenses.

On Saturday, March 26th at 11:42 p.m. Deputy B.E. Vaughn responded to a privately run group home for juveniles in North Stafford as part of an investigation. When he arrived, a juvenile answered the door and was unable to awaken the staff member on duty. Deputy Vaughn and Sgt. J.A. Mangan III proceeded into the home to do a welfare check on the staff member. The staff member was finally woken up , but appeared to be under the influence. The staff member was identified as William Patterson, 34, of King George and there were five juveniles under his care.

Patterson was arrested and deputies found a suspected controlled substance in his jacket. He has been charged with possession of a controlled substance and five counts of felony child endangerment. He was ordered held without bond at the Rappahannock Regional Jail. The group home supervisor was contacted and responded to assume duty in Patterson’s stead. Child Protective Services was also made aware of the case.