ST. JOHNSBURY (VT)
The Caledonian Record
By JAMES JARDINE Staff Writer
Friday February 11, 2005
ST. JOHNSBURY VERMONT
John W. Thomas Jr., 34, of Savoy, Mass., was arraigned Wednesday on three felony charges of sexual misconduct involving children.
He entered innocent pleas to all three charges.
Probable cause had been found in January by Judge Brian Grearson to charge Thomas with two felony charges of lewd and lascivious conduct with a child, and a third felony charge of sexual assault on a minor.
Probable cause was not found on a fourth felony charge of lewd and lascivious conduct with a child. That count was dismissed, but can be refiled by the state.
Essex District Court
The charges are the result of allegations by a number of individuals who were minor children living with their families in the Twelve Tribes Community Church in a number of different locations during 1995 and 1996.
The complainants allege Thomas was a member of the church and was a teacher of some of the church's children from about 1995 until he was expelled from the church in November 2002.
Posted by kshaw at February 11, 2005 10:26 PM