Patrick Corey Fields pleaded guilty Tuesday to two misdemeanor charges and saw his child sexual assault charges dismissed.
Patrick Corey Fields, 35, of Bladenboro, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor child abuse and misdemeanor assault on a child in Columbus County Superior Court Tuesday, according to court records. Charges of second degree sex offense with a child and indecent liberties were dismissed by the District Attorney’s Office as part of the plea.
Fields entered an Alford Plea on the sex charges. An Alford Plea means the defendant did not admit guilt, but recognizes that there is enough evidence that he could be convicted. Fields will serve five days in the Columbus County Detention Center and must have no contact with the victim or family, per the agreement. He will be on supervised probation for five years.
He was originally arrested in 2024 on the sex offense charges, which were alleged to have occurred in Tabor City in 2020. The victim’s mother contacted law enforcement in April 2024. Fields, the child and the child’s mother knew each other, investigators said. The Grand Jury indicted Fields in April.
Judge James Floyd Ammons presided over the case. The case was originally being prosecuted by Jenna Early, who was replaced by Amanda Traywick. Fields was represented by William C. Gore Jr.
