Suspended District Attorney Jeffrey Thomas sentenced to prison in sexual assault case

SOMERSET — Suspended Somerset County District Attorney Jeffrey Thomas II was sentenced to 24 to 84 months in state prison Thursday by Senior Judge Timothy Creany in a sexual assault case.

He was ordered by the judge to pay $1,900 in fines, register as a sex offender for 15 years and be credited 157 days for time served.

Thomas was not assessed as a sexually violent predator by the Sexual Offender Assessment Board. Because of the conviction of indecent assault, however, he is considered a sexual offender by law and must register as such.

This story began on Sept. 18, 2021, when acts by Thomas included a sexual encounter with a female in her Windber home as the basis for being charged with sexual assault charges that included rape, which was later withdrawn.

The jury heard, decided

The jury trial was held in March.

A woman said Thomas punched her in the face and choked her at least twice during an unwanted sexual and physical assault on the evening of Sept. 18, 2021.

Why: Jury finds Somerset County DA Jeffrey Thomas guilty on six of nine charges

During the seven-day trial, several witnesses testified about seeing the bruises. The woman testified she received the bruises from Thomas the night of the incident.

One side: Witness testifies about night she alleges DA Jeffrey Thomas sexually, physically abused her

The defense put several witnesses on the stand who testified Thomas had a good reputation and was a strong advocate for getting illegal drugs off the streets of Somerset County.

On the nine criminal charges, the jury found him not guilty of simple assault, aggravated indecent assault and simple assault–biting. The jury found him guilty of strangulation, committed in conjunction with sexual violence; criminal trespass; unlawful restraint; indecent assault–lack of consent; false imprisonment; and simple assault–striking.

More: Suspended Somerset County DA Jeffrey Thomas sentencing for sexual abuse continued

What happened

Thomas, 37, of Windber, was accused of entering an adult acquaintance's home without permission on the evening of Sept. 18, 2021, and remained in the home. Police said he then began to sexually and physically assault the woman. Charges were brought four days later.

Thomas was overwhelmingly elected in 2019 on a platform of fighting illegal drugs and dealers.

At the sentencing

More than 40 people crowded into Courtroom No. 3 to watch the sentencing. There were many court professionals, such as attorneys and administrators, among them, along with law enforcement, friends and family for both the victim and for Thomas.

The sentencing ran just short of two hours.

What witnesses had to say:

The prosecutors put on only one witness: the victim.

She spoke of how the incident on Sept. 18, 2021, took away her security, her state of mind and something she was proud of accomplishing, her independence.

"I'm putting my life back together," she testified from the stand. "Let me tell you, it hasn't been easy."

The defense attorneys called Jeffrey Thomas Sr. (the father), a man who considered the defendant "a mentor" and Thomas' wife, Amy.

His dad testified that he was "very proud" of his son. "He is kind. He is considerate. He is just a good guy," he said.

He and his wife are helping raise and take care of Jeff and Amy's three children, and he discussed how difficult that has been.

"We just need him at home," he said.

The father said he did not believe his son did what he was convicted of doing.

"He was doing the right thing. He was cleaning up the county (from illegal drugs and dealers). He is being punished for something he didn't do."

Amy Thomas said that she and the couple's three children "have been collateral damage" because of the case involving her husband.

She testified to the hardship of having children who want their father home.

"They miss him terribly," she said. The couple's three children ages run from 7 to 4.

"It has been really awful," she said. Amy testified about how she has been followed, her friends investigated and her job lost.

"People have stepped back because of that," she said. People are afraid to get close.

Her husband "is a good person," she said. "I know in my heart (the charges) isn't true."

Then his attorneys offered several more letters in support of their client. The judge said he has received letters both in support of Thomas and against Thomas.

What attorneys had to say:

For the prosecution, the team of Chief Deputy General Patrick Schulte, who spoke at the sentencing, and Senior Deputy Attorney General Tomm Mutschler.

Schulte told Creany that he viewed Thomas's children as victims, too. "He was not thinking about his kids" when the crime was committed, he said.

"Amy Thomas and Jeff Thomas, in particular" are not victims. Plain and simple," Schulte said.

He reiterated why the prosecution believed that Thomas should go to prison.

"Jeff Thomas was elected to protect Somerset County. Who knew that Somerset County needed to be protected from him," Schulte said.

For the defense, the team of Ryan Tutera, who spoke at the sentencing, and Eric Jackson Lurie, both of Pittsburgh.

Tutera spoke of the difficulty of the case. He spoke about how he had heard that Thomas was not remorseful.

"Why would one be remorseful for something he didn't do?" he said.

From personal interactions with Thomas in the various courts before becoming his attorney in this matter, Tutera told the judge that Thomas was always respectful, nice and diligent. He was in the reserves for six years and received an honorable discharge. He healed a program that gives to needy children in Windber.

"That to me sounds like someone who is honorable. He didn't do it to become a district attorney. He was doing it because he cares," he said.

"We ask the court to consider that past (community and country endeavors)" when crafting the sentence.

The defense asked the judge to go home wearing a electronic monitor to fulfill his sentence.

What Thomas had to say:

Thomas spoke of his parents and how they have always been kind and giving to others and that those virtues were instilled in him.

When Thomas ran for district attorney, he said he did so to help the community that he loved to rid itself of illegal drugs and their harm.

Thomas called the illegal drug issue "a cancer in our community." He used his position as the county's lead law enforcement officer to quadruple the number of drugs and drug dealers off the streets.

Now, "My job and career is gone." His reputation is tainted. "I am financially destitute."

His ability "to provide for my family, my children is destroyed."

Thomas concluded by asking the judge "not to take more time from my family."

What the judge had to say:

"This is difficult for me. Certainly not as difficult for you. It weighs on me. It weighs heavily."

Creany told Thomas as he stood at the podium surrounded by his attorneys on either side, that he emphasized with the wife and children of Thomas.

However, he said that he has to look at the entire picture, and what he sees is two different people when he is looking at Thomas.

There is the Thomas who is giving, kind, a good family man and someone who cares for his community.

Then there is the Thomas who is threatening.

"In this courthouse, (you confronted an independent counselor to the victim in a threatening manner. There were many people who saw it."

It was a time when Thomas knew he was under a microscope and needed to be on the best behavior, he said.

"It was your darker instincts you demonstrated on that day. My goal, my charge is to put you in the best position to help you bring out the best Jeffrey Thomas," Creany said.

The rehabilitation that Thomas needs can not be best addressed in a county facility or at his home wearing an electronic monitor. It is in state prison.

"As I look at the case, you had a year and a half (to stop approaching the victim), but you continued. You tried to impose yourself on this person. She continued to say no. What sense of entitlement did you had ...? Your behavior was predatory."

Creany then told Thomas he hopes that from his time in prison, he will walk out the door "the best" Thomas.

This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Somerset County District Attorney Jeffrey Thomas sentenced to prison