ENTERPRISE, Ala. (WDNews) — An Andalusia man has been convicted on three charges following a trial involving a teenage girl who authorities said was deceived about his age and identity.
According to the 12th Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office, Garrett Whitfield appeared Monday, Sept. 21, in the Enterprise Division of Coffee County Circuit Court. He was tried on charges of traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act, second-degree rape and second-degree sodomy.
Assistant District Attorney Kylie Crespo prosecuted the case. Circuit Judge Henry “Sonny” Reagan presided over the trial.
According to the district attorney’s office, the Enterprise Police Department received a report in early 2024 involving Whitfield and a female juvenile.
Evidence presented during the trial showed the girl was 15 in the summer of 2023 when she began communicating on social media with someone she believed was a 17-year-old boy named “Tyler Patterson.”
Authorities said “Tyler Patterson” initiated the contact and sought out the girl. The two later arranged to meet in person.
According to the district attorney’s office, “Tyler Patterson” traveled to Enterprise several times and bought the girl lingerie and other gifts. Prosecutors said the two had sexual intercourse and oral sex on multiple occasions.
The investigation took a turn after the girl was outside the Enterprise area and “Tyler Patterson” ordered food for her through a delivery app. According to prosecutors, the receipt listed Garrett Whitfield as the purchaser.
The girl did not know anyone by that name and searched for information about him. Authorities said she then discovered that the person she believed was 17-year-old “Tyler Patterson” was actually 28-year-old Garrett Whitfield of Andalusia.
After a day-and-a-half trial, a jury convicted Whitfield on all three charges. Judge Reagan ordered Whitfield held in the custody of the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office pending sentencing, which is scheduled for Nov. 19.
“I am so grateful to our victim and her family. We were able to prosecute this case because she had the courage to face Mr. Whitfield in court and tell the truth about what he did to her. I am also thankful to Sgt. Amber Darbro of the Enterprise Police Department for the hard work she put in investigating this case. Because of our victim and Sgt. Darbro, this predator is facing a prison sentence and will no longer be able to victimize any young girls,” Crespo said.
District Attorney James Tarbox also praised Crespo and investigators.
“Assistant DA Crespo did an outstanding job prosecuting this case. I am thankful that she was able to work with our victim and prosecute this predator. The allegations made in this case were absolutely disgusting and our office is glad that a jury of Defendant Whitfield’s peers agreed and convicted him on all three charges as presented. We are thankful that Defendant Whitfield will be going to prison and will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life,” Tarbox said.
The District Attorney’s Office also thanked the Enterprise Police Department and case agent Sgt. Amber Darbro, along with the State Bureau of Investigation, Andalusia Police Department, Covington County Sheriff’s Office, Opp Police Department and Opp Fire Department for assisting with a search warrant related to the case.
