Somerset DA Jeffrey Thomas facing rape charges after arrest Wednesday by state police
Michelle Ganassi
Somerset County District Attorney Jeffrey Thomas was arrested Wednesday after police say he raped a woman.
State police charged Thomas, of Windber, with rape, indecent assault, strangulation, simple assault and criminal trespass.
According to police, an investigation into the Sept. 18 incident began Tuesday at a Windber Borough residence. Police said Thomas entered an adult acquaintance's home Saturday night without permission and remained in the home even after being told to leave.
Thomas then began sexually and physically assaulting the woman inside the residence, police said.
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"The charges this defendant is facing for a violent attack are deeply disturbing," said Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said in a press release Wednesday night. "Mr. Thomas is entrusted by the public to uphold the law and serve as a voice for victims. I commend the bravery of the victim that has come forward - that is never an easy thing to do, especially when your abuser is a powerful elected official. Today is a reminder that no one is above the law."
Police said the investigation is ongoing and Thomas is being held in the Cambria County Prison in lieu of $5,000 bail.
Thomas was elected in 2019 receiving 60% of the vote over incumbent District Attorney Lisa Lazzari-Strasiser. He took office in January 2020.
During his tenure, he was often at odds with the Somerset County Commissioners over his budget and county policy.
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In September 2020, Thomas barred maintenance staff from entering his office after he set up a trail camera that captured a maintenance official taking photos inside his office.
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The Daily American filed a right-to-know request which revealed the maintenance worker had taken photos of empty beer cans in the garbage and a candle in his office. Both are banned by county policy, yet as an elected official, Thomas was not bound by the handbook.
"We had a celebratory beer, which is something, apparently, is a tradition when I took over," he told the Daily American in September 2020. "The way it was conveyed to me is it was a tradition in the DA's office for a long time."
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In October, Thomas was cited on disorderly conduct and harassment charges after an altercation in Cambria County. The citations, which were withdrawn earlier this year after he issued apologies to two Richland Township businesses, charged that Thomas "did create a hazardous and physically offensive condition using obscene language."
Thomas told the Daily American at the time that the issue stemmed from a disagreement over poor customer service for this daughter's 5th birthday party.
The pizza shop was providing food for Thomas's daughter's birthday party, held at the gym.
"Like any dad who sees his 5-year-old daughter upset, I got upset," he in October after learning about the citations. "At this point, I am an elected official — I get it, I have a target on my back. But I am a dad first. I got upset and said some things I shouldn't have said."
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His next court appearance is scheduled for 11 a.m. Sept. 29 before District Judge William Seger in Windber.