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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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