Bucks lawyer acquitted of homicide in girlfriend’s fall from truck

Bucks County lawyer Richard Patton was acquitted this afternoon of vehicular homicide charges in the April 2007 death of his girlfriend, Heather Demou.

Patton, 52, of Solebury Township, was found not guilty in Bucks County Court of vehicular homicide, vehicular homicide while driving under the influence, and involuntary manslaughter. The 11-man, one-woman jury convicted him of two lesser crimes: recklessly endangering another person and driving under the influence.

The 2:30 p.m. verdict came after three hours of deliberation. Judge David W. Heckler said he would set a sentencing date for Patton sometime in August.

Demou, 34, of Buckingham Township, was killed when she fell from the side of Patton's moving pickup truck after the couple had argued outside a Newtown Township restaurant. Patton, a former county and state prosecutor, maintained that he never knew that Demou was clinging to his truck as he drove away. Both were drunk at the time.

Demou's family, visibly upset, left without speaking to reporters. After the verdict, two large signs bearing Demou's photo appeared on a white pickup truck parked across the street from the main entrance of the courthouse. One was labeled: "Heather Demou." The other: "Forever in our hearts."

Patton and his attorney, Brian McMonagle, slipped out of a back entrance of the courtroom without commenting. Deputy Attorney General Patrick Blessington, who prosecuted the case, declined to comment.

Patton will remain free on bail until his sentencing.