GERALD THOMAS FOUND GUILTY OF ATTEMPTED FIRST DEGREE MURDER

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[December 22, 2018]  LINCOLN -- A Middletown man, formerly of Chicago via Lincoln, has been found guilty of Attempt First Degree Murder.

On December 13, 2018, following a three-day bench trial, Associate Judge William Workman found 27-year-oldGerald L. Thomas Jr. (d.o.b. 5-16-91) guilty of two counts of Attempt First Degree Murder, one count of Aggravated Battery with a Firearm, and one count of Unlawful Possession of Weapon by Felon. Judge Workman specifically found that during the commission of one of the Attempt First Degree Murder charges, Thomas personally discharged a firearm that proximately cause great bodily harm to one of the victims and during the commission of the other Attempt First Degree Murder charge, Thomas was armed with a firearm.

Gerald L. Thomas Jr.’s sentencing hearing is set for 2:30 p.m. on January 30, 2019.

Each count of Attempt First Degree Murder carries a possible sentence of between 6 and 30 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, followed by between 3 years of mandatory supervised release (formerly called parole). Since Gerald Thomas personally discharged a firearm that proximately caused great bodily harm to one of the victims during the commission of one of the Attempt First Degree Murder charges and possessed a firearm during the commission of the other Attempt First Degree Murder charge, a total of 40 years must be added to any sentence imposed for those two offenses.

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Unlawful Possession of a Weapon by a Felon carries a possible sentence of between 2 and 10 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Each count of Attempt First Degree Murder and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon by a Felon must be served consecutively. Meaning, the minimum sentence is 54 years and the maximum sentence is 110 years in the Department of Corrections. Probation is not a possibility and Thomas must serve at least 85% of the sentence.

Gerald L. Thomas Jr. has been in the custody of the Logan County Sheriff’s Department since December 11, 2017 and will get credit for the time he has been in custody.

Gerald L. Thomas Jr. has been found guilty of 5 prior felony offenses. In 2010, Thomas committed the offenses of Aggravated Unlawful Use of Weapons and Criminal Damage to Property. In 2011, Thomas committed the offense of Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance. In 2012, Thomas committed the offense of Obstructing Justice. In 2013, Thomas committed the offense of Unlawful Delivery of Controlled Substance.

The Lincoln Police Department with the assistance of the Logan County Sheriff’s Department and the Illinois State Police investigated the case.

[press release from Logan County State's Attorney Jonathan Wright]

 

 

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