Genesee County Prosecutor's Office
David Leyton, Prosecutor
|
|
Genesee County Prosecutor's Office David Leyton, Prosecutor |
|
December 8, 2008
FLINT, Michigan -- Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton said the lengthy prison sentence handed down to convicted rapist Kevin Lee Thomas is appropriate and just.
Thomas, 32, was sentenced today in Genesee County Circuit Court to a minimum of 56 years and 10 months in prison after being convicted on October 28, 2008 on 18 felony counts for assaulting three women and kidnapping and raping two of them during a spree of attacks at local shopping malls in October of 2007. Thomas was given credit for 405 days already served in the Genesee County jail while awaiting trial and sentencing.
Prosecutor Leyton said that given Thomas' age and the length of his sentence, it is near certain that Thomas will spend the rest of his life behind bars.
"Today's sentencing means that the very earliest Thomas could even be considered for parole is in the year 2064 when he would be 88 years old. Even if he were still alive at that time, I doubt the parole board would consider paroling him given the viciousness of his crimes. I fully expect he will never see life from outside prison walls ever again," said Prosecutor Leyton.
During the course of the 6-day trial back in October, Prosecutor David Leyton and Assistant Prosecutor Tamara Phillips presented a case that Prosecutor Leyton has called "every woman's worst nightmare."
Testimony showed that that the first incident occurred in the parking lot of the Courtland Center shopping mall in Burton on October 22, 2007. In that case, testimony indicated that a female shopper was getting into her car when she was attacked by the defendant and taken in her own vehicle to another location where he raped her numerous times.
Further testimony showed that two days later, another female shopper was leaving the Genesee Valley Center shopping mall when the defendant assaulted her and forced her into her car before she was able to break free and seek help.
Just hours later, the man took the second victim’s car to Courtland Center where he assaulted another female shopper who was getting into her car. As he had done with the first victim, the defendant forced the third victim to drive him to the same location where he also raped her numerous times.
In all, Thomas was found guilty of eight counts of first degree sexual conduct; three counts of carjacking; three counts of kidnapping; one count of armed robbery; two counts of unarmed robbery; and one count of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder.
Prosecutor Leyton said "Thomas preyed on helpless women in a violent, appalling manner and thought he could get away with it. After today's sentencing, that won't happen again."
# # #
Article from the Flint Journal on mlive.com...
FLINT, Michigan -- A man who abducted and raped two women from area mall parking lots will be nearly 90 years old before he gets his first chance at freedom.
Kevin L. Thomas, 33, of Iron Mountain offered no apologies before Genesee Circuit Judge Judith A. Fullerton ordered him to spend 46 to 70 years in prison for rape, robbery and kidnapping.
Even if he gets parole after 45 years, Thomas will still have to serve another 10 to 20 years in prison for carjacking.
One of the women he raped told Fullerton that she still suffers from anxiety attacks in parking lots after Thomas hit her in the head with a rock Oct. 22, 2007 and kidnapped her from the parking lot of Courtland Center in Burton.
The attack, she said through tears, lasted 90 minutes but changed her life "forever."
Two of Thomas' other victims -- including a woman who escaped when he grabbed her in the parking lot of Genesee Valley shopping center -- were in the courtroom for the sentencing but did not address the judge.
Faced with the possibility of life in prison, Thomas said little during Monday's hearing.
Fullerton offered him the chance to make a statement but he declined.
Genesee County Prosecutor David S. Leyton called the case "heinous and brutal" and said the sentence was appropriate.
"(Thomas) is nothing more than a violent con man," said Leyton. "He has no remorse for the havoc he's played."
Thomas had testified that the sex with the women was consensual, but both rape victims testified that he kidnapped them then drove to a remote area of Shiawassee County where he raped them.
One of the victims testified that Thomas grabbed her so hard that he pulled out a clump of her hair.
Leyton credited the victims for their bravery.
"We would not have been able to convict if they had not come forward," he said.
Thomas' attorney, William Hackett, declined comment after the sentencing but earlier told Fullerton that Thomas was "quite remorseful."
Hackett said Thomas will appeal the case.
© 2008 Michigan Live. All Rights Reserved.