A Palm Beach County jury on Wednesday found a man guilty of child sex crimes that occurred between 2016 and 2017, the State Attorney’s Office announces.

After a three-day trial, Edward P. Patterson, 53, was convicted of five counts of lewd or lascivious battery and one count of lewd or lascivious molestation.

The victim bravely testified that the incidents started when she was 13 and in the seventh grade. The abuse continued for 18 months. The defendant, who told the jury he drove a public bus at the time, said he didn’t commit the crimes.

Following the verdict, the court declared Patterson a sexual offender. Sentencing is pending.

Assistant State Attorneys Amanda McCabe and Alexa Ruggiero of our Special Victims Unit prosecuted the case.

We extend our thanks to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office detectives who conducted the investigation.