An abortion-rights activist now running for the Florida Legislature pled guilty to a charge of attempting to disturb a lawful assembly for an incident in May in which she allegedly threw underwear toward a sheriff’s deputy.
Court records show that Bonnie Patterson-James of Lakeland signed an agreement to plead guilty, with adjudication withheld. Patterson-James agreed to pay a fine of $320.50, plus $200 for investigative costs and other fees.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested Patterson-James, 55, in May, a few days after she protested a groundbreaking for a new building at Options for Women, a pregnancy center at 4504 S. Florida Ave. in Lakeland. During the private event, Patterson-James stood on the adjacent property of the Lakeland Women’s Health Center, a clinic that performs abortions, and spoke loudly through a bullhorn as a series of speakers addressed an audience under a tent at the construction site.
Two Lakeland police officers working at the event made no effort to stop Patterson-James’ heckling of the speakers.
After the dedication ended, Patterson-James threw a pair of rolled-up women’s panties toward state Rep. Jennifer Canady, R-Lakeland, as she stood near Polk County Sheriff’s Deputy Billy Strickland, according to a PCSO report. Strickland, who was attending as a guest on behalf of Sheriff Grady Judd, said the underwear struck him in the leg.
Strickland went to the property next door and sought to identify Patterson-James, who declined to give her name, according to a PCSO affidavit. Strickland learned her identity but didn’t arrest her at the time.
Days later, a deputy stopped Patterson-James as she was driving and arrested her on charges of battery on a law enforcement officer, a third-degree felony, and resisting arrest without violence, a first-degree misdemeanor. When the State Attorney’s Office for the 10th Judicial Circuit submitted a charging document in June, those charges were removed and Patterson-James was charged with attempting to disturb a lawful assembly, a misdemeanor.
Patterson-James said that her lawyer had agreed with the State Attorney’s Office that she would plead no contest but that Judge Catherine Combee would only accept a plea of guilty, with the defendant adding the words “in my best interests.” Patterson-James said she planned to petition the court to have her record for the misdemeanor sealed.
Patterson-James is the founder of Lakeland Inclusive Diverse Voice, an organization that has coordinated demonstrations for abortion rights. She traveled to Tallahassee during the last legislative session to protest a bill, co-sponsored by Canady that would bar most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy.
Since her arrest, Patterson-James has filed to run as a Democrat and challenge Canady for the State House District 50 seat next year.