Suspended Somerset district attorney could have bail revoked following new expenses

Point out Attorney Basic Josh Shapiro this 7 days filed a motion inquiring a decide to revoke the bond of suspended Somerset District Lawyer Jeffrey L. Thomas right after two new sets of rates ended up submitted in opposition to him.
Thomas, 36, is awaiting trial on sexual assault charges. He now is accused of pursuing and striking a prosecution witness’ car or truck in Windber soon just after midnight March 31.
A hearing on Shapiro’s motion is established for 11 a.m. Friday.
Thomas faces harassment and reckless driving expenses, stemming from an incident that was recorded by a police officer’s sprint camera, in accordance to the citations.
Shapiro’s place of work argues that the car incident is the most current in a “pattern of violent behavior” that warrant Thomas’ bond to be revoked.
“(Thomas) has violated the circumstances of his bond these kinds of that no condition or combination of problems other than imprisonment will fairly assure the safety of any person or the neighborhood,” states the movement submitted by senior deputy lawyers normal Patrick Schulte and Tomm Mutschler states.
In the March 31 pursuit, Thomas is accused of chasing a man on Somerset Avenue and 11th Avenue in his truck in an act to “harass, alarm or annoy” him, in accordance to a Windber police citation.
Thomas was also cited and fined additional than $400 for driving recklessly and failing to obey stop signs through the pursuit, according to court paperwork.
On Monday, point out law enforcement submitted charges of easy assault, reckless endangerment and harassment right after troopers alleged that Thomas was seen on a online video get in touch with punching a lady as the two rode in a car in May 2021.
Authorities stated a woman stated she was on the phone and noticed Thomas punch the other female at the very least 10 occasions in the head and experience. The woman reported she decided that the alleged assault took location in a auto traveling in between Cambria and Somerset counties. She later on discovered the sufferer and took photographs of her accidents.
Thomas is accused of attacking a woman in her Windber residence in September. He faces sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault, illegal restraint and strangulation expenses in that circumstance.
His demo is scheduled to start in September. He has been totally free on $5,000 bond in that situation considering the fact that his arrest, according to court docket dockets.
Thomas was released from Cambria County Prison on Tuesday immediately after putting up $2,500 bond on the domestic assault-relevant costs troopers submitted.
He is awaiting demo on costs involving a separate Windber woman. In that case, Thomas is accused of sexually assaulting and strangling her following coming into her residence irrespective of warnings to stay away in September.
Thomas, who was elected in 2019, was suspended from his job final calendar year after state law enforcement filed the sexual assault rates from him.
Thomas’ lawyer, Ryan Tutera of Pittsburgh, declined remark. Throughout prior court docket appearances, Tutera has reported Thomas maintains he is harmless.
Paul Peirce is a Tribune-Review personnel writer. You can get in touch with Paul at 724-850-2860, [email protected] or via Twitter .