By Shawn McGrath, Herald Bulletin Staff Writer
ANDERSON — Prosecutors on Wednesday filed charges against a 21-year-old man accused of molesting a preteen girl, who police say is a victim in another sexual assault case.
Lucas C. Thomas, who goes by the nickname “Skittles,” was arraigned on four counts of child molestation for allegedly fondling and allowing the 12-year-old to perform a sex act on him in April. Three of the charges, the most serious, are each punishable by six to 20 years if Thomas is found guilty.
Thomas was being held on $20,000 cash bond late Wednesday. According to police reports, he lives in Muncie. However, he said during a court hearing that he lives in Anderson.
According to a probable cause affidavit written by Anderson police Detective Jake Brooks:
The girl told investigators she watched Thomas and a 17-year-old girl have sex at the teen’s home in April. The teen told investigators the 12-year-old asked if they could have a threesome, but the teen turned down the request. Following intercourse, the teen performed a sex act on Thomas. The 12-year-old then did the same.
Several days later, the three were again at the teen girl’s home and Thomas fondled and kissed both girls at the same time. The teen and the 12-year-old also fondled each other. On another occasion, the 12-year-old and the 17-year-old were at the teen’s home, and they fondled one another.
Both Thomas and the 17-year-old girl told investigators they knew the 12-year-old’s age. They confirmed to detectives the girl’s account of the incidents.
The police investigation was sparked after the 12-year-old’s mother discovered a suggestive letter the girl had written to Thomas.
The Herald Bulletin doesn’t generally identify those suspected of being the victims of a sex crime. The teen’s name is being withheld because she is a juvenile. Officials had previously said she will likely be charged as a juvenile with child molestation.
Brooks took Thomas into custody at the Delaware County Probation Department. Thomas was charged in October 2008 with child molestation in Delaware County, according to court documents. He pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of child solicitation and was given a 18-month suspended prison term and placed on 18 months probation at his June 1 sentencing.
Prosecutors have already charged another man for allegedly having sex with the same 12-year-old.
Kody W. Riddle, 18, Anderson, was charged June 18 with two counts of child molestation for sexually assaulting the girl.
According to court documents in that case:
The 12-year-old told investigators she met Riddle about two weeks ago. On June 16, the two went into an abandoned home along Jefferson Street. The girl said Riddle pulled down her shorts, pushed her to the ground, pinned her down and had sex with her. The home was torn down on Friday.
The girl said she met with Riddle later on June 16 to retrieve a sweatshirt he had taken from her while they were inside the abandoned home. She went with him to his residence. Once there, she told police Riddle pulled her into his bedroom and forced her to have sex.
Riddle told detectives he thought the girl was 13. He claimed the sex was consensual.
Contact Shawn McGrath: 640-4883, shawn.mcgrath @heraldbulletin.com
