Current:Home > FinanceFormer district attorney in western Pennsylvania gets prison time for attacking a woman -CoinMarket
Former district attorney in western Pennsylvania gets prison time for attacking a woman
View
Date:2025-04-16 08:18:55
SOMERSET, Pa. (AP) — A former western Pennsylvania district attorney was sentenced Thursday to up to seven years in prison after a jury convicted him of attacking a woman in her home.
Somerset County’s former elected District Attorney Jeffrey Thomas was sentenced to between just over two years to seven years in prison after a Somerset County jury found him guilty earlier this year of strangulation and criminal trespassing, both felonies, and simple assault, unlawful restraint, indecent assault and false imprisonment. He was acquitted of sexual assault and aggravated indecent assault.
Thomas, 37, a Republican, is required to register with police as a sex offender for 15 years, the state attorney general’s office said.
Thomas’ attorney, Ryan M. Tutera, said in a phone interview Thursday they consider the sentence to be too high but that it could have been more “devastating” had he not been acquitted of several charges. Tutera said Thomas maintains he’s innocent of the charges.
Defense lawyers say Thomas intends to appeal, citing evidence that was barred from the proceedings.
“We were hoping to see him come home,” Tutera said. “Had the jury heard everything about the case, I feel confident they would have come to a different conclusion.”
The charges stemmed from a September 2021 incident in which, police said, a woman told investigators Thomas repeatedly contacted her over several years to seek a sexual relationship and would drive around her house. After he sent her a message saying he was headed to her home, she told him to stay away, according to the arrest affidavit.
Thomas showed up at her home and she told him to leave, and the physical attack followed, police said.
Thomas faces unrelated charges of simple assault, reckless endangerment and harassment after state police alleged that he was seen on a video call punching a woman as the two rode in a vehicle in May 2021.
He was elected in 2019 but was suspended after charges in the sexual assault case were filed.
veryGood! (5336)
Related
- 'We're reborn!' Gazans express joy at returning home to north
- Powerball winning numbers for February 12 drawing; Jackpot climbs to $285 million
- The Relatable Lesson Tay and Taylor Lautner Learned In Their First Year of Marriage
- Winter storm hits Northeast, causing difficult driving, closed schools and canceled flights
- Elon Musk's skyrocketing net worth: He's the first person with over $400 billion
- Meghan Markle Inks New Podcast Deal Less Than One Year After Parting Ways With Spotify
- Super Bowl thriller was the most-watched program ever, averaging 123.4 million viewers
- A widow opened herself up to new love. Instead, she was catfished for a million dollars.
- Costco membership growth 'robust,' even amid fee increase: What to know about earnings release
- The 5 states with the fastest job growth in 2023, and the 5 states with the slowest gains
Ranking
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Hi Hi!
- Man imprisoned for running unlicensed bitcoin business owes victims $3.5 million, judge rules
- Ex-aide to former Illinois House Speaker Madigan gets 2.5 years for perjury
- Arizona moves into No. 1 seed in latest USA TODAY Sports men's tournament Bracketology
- Civic engagement nonprofits say democracy needs support in between big elections. Do funders agree?
- IHOP giving away free pancakes for its National Pancake Day deal: Here's what to know
- Lawmaker seeks official pronunciation of ‘Concord,’ New Hampshire’s capital city
- When does 'American Idol' Season 22 start? Premiere date, how to watch, judges and more
Recommendation
Meta donates $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund
Jon Stewart's 'Daily Show' return is so smooth, it's like he never left
Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp sets the stage to aid Texas governor’s border standoff with Biden
Angela Chao, CEO of Foremost Group and Mitch McConnell's sister-in-law, dies in car accident
Alex Murdaugh’s murder appeal cites biased clerk and prejudicial evidence
Bobbie Jean Carter's Cause of Death Revealed
Pearl Jam gives details of new album ‘Dark Matter,’ drops first single, announces world tour
Pennsylvania outage map: Nearly 150,000 power outages reported as Nor'easter slams region