WASHINGTON — The man known as the East Coast Rapist, who is already locked up in Virginia, has now been sentenced for crimes committed in Maryland.
Aaron Thomas pleaded guilty to three counts of first degree rape in Prince George’s County for attacking three women between 1997 and 2001.
“Mr. Thomas is being held accountable, and will serve three life sentences,” says Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Angela Alsobrooks.
Thomas was captured in 2011, and is already serving three life terms plus 80 years for abducting three teenage girls and raping two of them on Halloween
in 2009 in Prince William County.
After being convicted of rape in Loudoun County, Thomas was sentenced to another two life terms.
The sentence from Prince George’s County will be served concurrently, or in other words, at the same time as the one he’s serving in
Virginia.
“Handling the case in this way we believe really did spare these victims the agony that comes with testifying in these cases, reliving the violence
over and over again. We hope that it will bring them peace and healing,” says Alsobrooks.
In victim impact statements released by the State’s Attorney’s office, one victim says: “In all honesty what he did to me and others I hope
happens to him.”
She wishes the sentence was harsher.
“Time in prison is just not enough for what he has done to me or anyone else,” she says.
“Do I hate you? No I do not,” another victim writes, directing her words to Thomas. “In fact I want you to know that you have made me a stronger woman.”
Investigators think Thomas is responsible for more than 17 attacks in four states: Connecticut, Maryland, Rhode Island and Virginia.
