Attorneys/Judges
| Prosecutor(s): | Catherine Ann Primavera | | Defense(s): | Steven Lynn Miller | | Judge(s): | John M. Cascio |
Dog & baby repeatedly raped, dog dies of injuries
Elk Lick, PA (US)Incident Date: Thursday, Mar 18, 2010
County: Somerset
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Rodney Lee Thomas
Case Updates: 2 update(s) available
A western Pennsylvania man has been jailed on charges he repeatedly had sex with a 9-month-old girl.
Thirty-8-year-old Rodney Lee Thomas, of Elk Lick Township, remains in the Somerset County Jail unable to post $100,000 bond on charges including rape and aggravated indecent assault against the child.
Police say Thomas also had sexual encounters with a dog that led to the animal's death. He faces three counts of sexual intercourse with an animal.
State police began investigating Tuesday after county child welfare workers contacted them. Thomas was arrested and arraigned Wednesday.
Police say Thomas told them he had been involved in similar sexual activity since he was a teenager.
Online court records don't list an attorney for Thomas.
Case UpdatesRodney Lee Thomas is facing what would constitute a life sentence if he is found guilty on all charges stemming from allegations that he raped a 9-month-old baby.
At a hearing Wednesday before President Judge John M. Cascio, Thomas said he wanted a trial.
Thomas is accused of raping and attempting to rape a 9-month-old baby.
On March 17, 2010, he was charged with 12 counts of aggravated indecent assault, nine counts of indecent assault, six counts of rape and criminal attempt, three counts each of sexual assault, endangering the welfare of children, simple assault, terroristic threats and sexual intercourse with an animal (a pet dog), and one count of aggravated assault.
The 40-year-old Salisbury man was scheduled to plead guilty Wednesday to an agreement worked out by the defense and prosecution during the past several months. But he changed his mind and said he wanted a new court-appointed attorney and he wanted to go to trial.
It was the second time he asked Cascio to replace his attorney, Steve Miller of Somerset. For the second time, Cascio denied Thomas' request after speaking with Miller and his client.
Miller told the judge that Thomas did not think it was fair that Miller discussed the difficulties of the case and the likelihood that a jury would render a verdict against him.
Cascio asked Thomas if he had a significant reason why Miller should be relieved from his position as defense attorney other than not liking what he was hearing. Thomas did not. Cascio denied Thomas' request.
The judge also went over the charges again with Thomas on Wednesday.
Cascio told Thomas that if he is found guilty on all charges, he is facing a mandatory minimum of 70 years in prison and a maximum period of 212 years. The plea agreement called for several of the charges to be dropped, resulting in a mandatory minimum of 20 years and a maximum of 40 years.
"We pick a jury and that (plea agreement) is off the table and we will go forward," Assistant District Attorney Catherine Primavera-Zakucia said.
If a jury finds Thomas guilty on all charges, he could spend the rest of his life in prison considering his age, Cascio told Thomas. The judge and the attorneys wanted Thomas to be clear on what his requests could mean to his life.
When asked several times if he understood, he answered that he did and he wanted to proceed with trial.
The court administrator is scheduling the May trial term. Cascio said to include three days for Thomas' trial.
Lisa Joy Slovick, 21, who resided at the same residence as Thomas in Elk Lick Township but who has since moved, told police that she saw Thomas rape the infant four times between Feb. 7 and March 16, 2010. She was charged on March 23, 2010, with four counts of endangering the welfare of a child. She was at the hearing Wednesday, sitting quietly beside her attorney, William Carroll of Somerset.
Slovick was to go to trial in May, but it was continued for consideration for the August trial term. Primavera-Zakucia told Cascio that the prosecution plans to call Slovick as a witness in Thomas' trial. | Source: Daily American - April 27, 2011
Update posted on Jun 12, 2011 - 1:13PM |
An Elk Lick Township man charged with sexual attacks on an infant and a dog will stand trial in Somerset County court.
Rodney Lee Thomas, 39, of Salisbury, waived his right to a preliminary hearing Thursday before District Judge Douglas Bell of Meyersdale.
In a court document, state police in Somerset alleged that Thomas had sex with a 9-month-old girl in Elk Lick Township at least three times from Feb. 7 to March 16.
Troopers said Thomas also had "sexual encounters" with a pet dog, Rocky, that led to the animal's death.
Thomas, of Ash Hill Road, also reportedly threatened a 20-year-old woman, saying he would break her neck.
He was charged with rape, aggravated assault, sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault, child endangerment and sexual intercourse with an animal.
Thomas also faces drug charges.
He was returned to the Somerset County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bond. | Source: tribune-democrat.com - May 27, 2010
Update posted on Jun 12, 2011 - 12:22AM |
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