Recordpub.com - Former KSU players gets eight years for burglary

By Marci Piltz

Record-Courier staff writer

A former Kent State University men's basketball standout and former Ravenna School District basketball coach was sentenced to eight years in prison Monday after previously pleading guilty to aggravated burglary and two counts of felonious assault.

Eric W. Thomas, 29, of Springfield, received the sentence from Judge Laurie Pittman in Portage County Common Pleas Court. Pittman sentenced him to eight years on the aggravated burglary charge, a first-degree felony, and five years each on the two second-degree felony charges of felonious assault.

Prior to the incident in Ravenna that led to his arrest, Thomas had been a freshmen head coach and assitant varsity boys basketball coach at Ravenna High School.

He also was a member of the 2001-02 KSU men's basketball team that made it to the Elite Eight before losing to Indiana University.

The victim in the case, Thomas' ex-wife, addressed the court prior to sentencing, and through tears expressed that he "is a better person" than what happened on Jan. 18.

"On Jan. 18, when Eric kicked in the door of my house, he came into my room where I was asleep. He grabbed me by the head, threw me into wall and knocked the other victim unconscious as I saw blood oozing out of (the victim's) mouth and nose," she said. "I was afraid to react any more than I did for fear he would hurt me or kill me. This wasn't an action of passion or trying to win me back, it was an action of revenge."

The female victim said she finally was able to get away from Thomas, grab a gun and load one round in the chamber "to shoot Eric" when she turned around and saw a Ravenna police officer also facing Eric with his weapon drawn.

"He just kept punching (the other victim) as he gurgled on his own blood, " she said. "Later one of the officers told me he could hear the other victim's head hitting the wall from outside the residence."

Initially charged with two counts of rape, both first-degree felonies, one count of aggravated burglary and one count of felonious assault, the remaining charges against Thomas were dropped as part of his plea deal.

"This has been the most degrading experience of my life," the victim said. "Eric has sentenced our daughter to a fatherless childhood."

Thomas' attorney, George Keith, argued that prior to this incident Thomas had been a basketball standout, local coach and had no prior criminal record. Thomas himself then spoke, and asked the court and the victim for forgiveness.

"In lieu of my freedom I felt a sense of worthlessness, but during that time I was saved and I have learned to forgive others, and now ask others to forgive me," Thomas told Pittman. "I pray that you find it in your heart to have mercy on me by not sentencing me to a penal institution, and I also ask that you give me an opportunity to be part of my child's life."

Pittman, however, told Thomas she was "deeply appalled" at what he did to the victims.

"I'm appalled not only for the victims but also for the community and your daughter," she said. "You were a basketball standout. You had the potential to have a great impact on the community and children, and you ruined it."

Pittman then sentenced Thomas to eight years in prison on the aggravated burglary charge and five years each on the two aggravated assault charges, all to run concurrently for a total of eight years.

He also was fined $250 plus court costs. He was not labeled as a sexual offender since he did not plead to either of the two rape charges.

Thomas was to be transported directly to prison, Pittman said.

The case was handled by special prosecutor Chris Becker of Trumbull County.

6.	Posted by tellnitlikeitis November 25, 2008
	Cracker yes I do have firsthand knowledge of the case, and I would never rely on the Record Courier for case facts, and in fact get frustrated when people do. I did not however attend the trial or go over the dockets yet but the record Courier does state Thomas himself then spoke, and asked the court and the victim for forgiveness. Forgiveness for what then if he himself was the victim of an elaborate plot by his ex-wife. I'm sure knowing Eric that it is hard for you to believe, or that you've never seen the side of Eric that is capable of these things but that doesn't change what happened. Whats the first thing said when they interview the serial killers neighbors? "He always seemed so nice." Sometimes people, like stories, can have two sides to them or in some cases things can happen to make good people snap. Whatever the case be people are capable of things that you would never expect.

4.	Posted by tellnitlikeitis November 25, 2008
	You are all entitled to your own opinions and they are in fact just that. Your opinions are neither fact or truth and whether you yourself could have pictured Eric capable of these things does not change the reality of it in that they did happen. There are two sides to the story, one being the factual side and the other being the defendants side. When officers arrived on scene and Eric was assaulting the second victim what was his side to that story? The victim had fallen and busted his face open and Eric being the fine upstanding citizen he is kicked in the door and was administering first aid when the police officers arrived and drew their sidearms on him? Gimme a break, or was it that the neighbors hearing the door kicked in and the screams called 911. Let's not forget the ex isn't the one that called the police, but yet this is all perpetrated by her....hmmmm. Lets get a grip on reality. And ravensplayer, your race card is expired! We have elected a black president but yet still you try and pull the race card. LMAO!