Jury finds Somerset County DA Jeffrey Thomas guilty on six of nine charges
After 2½ hours of deliberation, the jury in the Somerset District Attorney Jeffrey Thomas trial returned a mixed verdict.
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.
Thomas' wife held him as he cried while the verdict was read. The judge remanded him to Somerset County Jail. His sentencing is preliminarily scheduled for May 16.
The accuser received many hugs from the people surrounding her, some in tears.
The trial
The jury began its deliberation Thursday afternoon.
The accuser 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.
Other side:Amy Thomas testifies for the defense in her husband's sexual assault trial
On Thursday morning, the prosecution brought to the stand emergency medical physician Dr. Bruce MacLeod, cited as an expert in trauma and bruising. He practices in western Pennsylvania including Windber. His testimony was to rebut what the defense's expert witness, well-known forensic pathologist Cyril Wecht, of Allegheny County, had said: that in his opinion, the bruises around the accuser's eye and her neck were too superficial to have been made by a fist striking her nose and a hand choking her by her throat more than once. MacLeod testified he believed the bruises could have come from a fist and a hand around her throat.
During the seven-day trial, several witnesses testified about seeing the bruises. The woman testified that 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 that Thomas had a good reputation and was a strong advocate for getting illegal drugs off the streets of Somerset County.
Then the prosecution and the defense provided closing arguments to the jury that tied up what the jurors heard and saw during the seven days at trial.
The allegations
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.
Four days later, charges of sexual assault, indecent aggravated assault, indecent assault, strangulation, simple assault and criminal trespass were brought against Thomas.
Unfolding:A look at changes in the Somerset County District Attorney's Office
The accuser testified at the trial. Thomas did not, which is his constitutional right. The defense does not have to prove anything. The prosecution must prove that the defendant is guilty of all the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.
This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Jury decides mixed verdict in DA Jeffrey Thomas assault case
