Brian Patterson’s case bound over to circuit court

A man accused of shooting at a man he thought was having an affair with his wife waived his right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday.

Brian Lee Patterson, 42, of rural Bonne Terre, is charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action. He waived his right to a preliminary hearing and the case was bound over to the circuit court level for trial setting. His next court date is March 21 before Circuit Court Judge Kenneth W. Pratte.

According to the probable cause statement, in October a man went to Patterson’s home on Berry Road after Patterson asked him to come over. When Patterson answered the door, he asked the man “why did you sleep with my wife?”

When the man told Patterson he did not sleep with his wife, Patterson got a rifle and pointed it at him and told him to leave.

After the man got in his truck to leave, Patterson shot out the man’s driver’s side window and then fired again.

The man said he discovered a bullet hole in his hat. He went to the Bonne Terre Eagles parking lot and called police.

When officers went to Patterson’s home he would not answer the door. He was “finally located inside of the residence and was placed under arrest,” according to court documents.

Officers found a loaded rifle and a loaded pistol in the home. They found four spent rounds in the driveway, as well as shattered glass from the man’s window.

A witness to the incident refused to cooperate with police.

Patterson has a prior conviction for misdemeanor assault. He is out on bond.