Bragg soldier faces sexual assault charges

Rachael Riley, The Fayetteville Observer
·2 min read
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A Fort Bragg soldier will face a general court-martial in June on child sex crime charges, according to Army trial dockets.

Capt. Lamario D. Thomas, 45, of Highgrove Drive in Spring Lake, pleaded not guilty during a Feb. 23 arraignment to two counts of rape or sexual assault of a child, two counts of rape or sexual assault and one count of conduct unbecoming of an officer, according to dockets.

Thomas is assigned to Fort Bragg’s Dental Command, according to his charge sheet.  His court-martial is set for June 26 to June 30.

The charge sheet, filed Dec. 22, alleges that, between April 13, 2013, and April 13, 2015, Thomas sexually assaulted a child between the ages of 12 and 16 in Spring Lake.

The document further alleges that between June 1, 2018, and July 5, 2018, Thomas sexually assaulted a person who was sleeping or unconscious at the time and that he committed another sexual assault between May 22, 2018, and July 15, 2018.

On Dec. 2, Thomas registered with the North Carolina Sex Offender Registry after being convicted on Nov. 29, 2022, in Harnett County of the sexual battery of a victim on April 13, 2013.

It's not known if the Army charges are based on the same facts as the Harnett County conviction.

Harnett County records state that Thomas had forced sex with a child older than 6 and younger than 16 between April 13, 2013, and June 1, 2013.

Harnett County court records show that Thomas was arrested July 5, 2018, by the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office on charges of statutory rape of a child 6 years old or younger, indecent liberties with a child from April 13, 2013, to July 5, 2018, and sexual battery.

All the charges, except the sexual battery charge to which Thomas plead guilty, were dismissed Nov. 29, according to Harnett County court records.

The Daily Record reported in 2018 that Harnett County Sheriff’s Office officials said Thomas was arrested after a family member discovered a video on a cellphone.

Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at rriley@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3528.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Bragg soldier faces court martial for child sex crimes