​Commonwealth v. Patrick Michael Sonnenburg; Years of Abuse of Child Draws 25-Year Sentence

Virginia Beach, Va. - Colin D. Stolle, Commonwealth's Attorney for the city of Virginia Beach, announced that Patrick Michael Sonnenburg, age 41, was sentenced today by Circuit Court Judge A. Bonwill Shockley for charges of Forcible Sodomy and Indecent Liberties with Child Under 15. Judge Shockley sentenced Sonnenburg to 35 years in prison with ten (10) years suspended, leaving 25 years to serve.

Sonnenburg pled guilty on March 29, 2021. Had this matter gone to trial, the Commonwealth's evidence would have proven that between August 1, 2008, and August 31, 2010, Patrick Michael Sonnenburg repeatedly sexually abused a young child known to him. The abuse occurred approximately two (2) to three (3) times per week over that two-year period. The victim ultimately disclosed the abuse to family members.

On December 18, 2018, detectives in Yamhill County, Oregon, interviewed Sonnenburg about similar allegations that occurred in their county involving the same victim. Sonnenburg admitted to abusing the child in Oregon and Virginia Beach. He told detectives that he never meant to abuse the child, that it felt 'mutual' to him, that he did not feel he was hurting the child because the child never said to stop, and that the child was very 'go with the flow.'

Sonnenburg has convictions in Oregon for Sodomy in the Second Degree (two counts) and Sexual Abuse in the First Degree.

Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Katharine D. Aicher prosecuted this case. Please contact Macie Allen if additional information is desired.