HARRISBURG, PA — The former Somerset County District Attorney, Jeffrey Thomas, has pleaded no contest to a charge of misdemeanor simple assault in a domestic violence case involving his wife. The plea, entered on Tuesday, carries the same legal effect as a guilty plea.
Thomas was sentenced to two years of probation for the assault, which will run concurrently with the 2½-to-7-year prison term he is currently serving for the sexual assault of a Windber woman.
The assault occurred in May 2021 when Thomas, who was then serving as district attorney, repeatedly punched his wife in the head inside a vehicle in Johnstown, Cambria County. The Office of Attorney General conducted the investigation that led to the charges.
Attorney General Michelle Henry emphasized the significance of this conviction. “This conviction shows that no one is above the law and domestic violence will not be tolerated,” she said. “My office will continue to prosecute these difficult cases regardless of who the defendant is.”
A Cambria County Judge presided over the plea and ordered the sentence. As a result of the conviction, Thomas is prohibited from possessing firearms.
In August 2023, Thomas was sentenced for the sexual assault case, which the Office of Attorney General prosecuted successfully last year.
Chief Deputy Attorney General Patrick Schulte and Senior Deputy Attorney General Tomm Mutschler led the prosecution in both cases.
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