Couple accused of abusing kids plead no contest

John Thomas was accused of abusing his children; Carol Thomas was accused of not protecting them.

By RICK LEE

A West Manchester Township couple accused of abusing their adopted children pleaded no contest Tuesday in York County Court of Common Pleas.

John Henry Thomas, 53, was accused of raping one of the older girls and physically abusing the others beginning in 2003. His wife, Carol, 60, was charged with failing to protect the children from her husband.

After their arrests in November 2006, the couple said two of the older girls concocted the allegations that the Thomases also withheld food from, handcuffed, beat, nearly suffocated and forced the children to drink their urine.

On Tuesday, John Thomas pleaded no contest to sexual assault and unlawful contact with a minor, which included the allegation of sexual intercourse with one of the teenage girls.

In his plea agreement with the York County District Attorney's office, Thomas, who remains free on $50,000 bail, expects to be sentenced to three to seven years in state prison after by five years of probation. Charges of rape, statutory sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault, unlawful restraint, corruption and endangerment were dismissed.

Judge Thomas H. Kelley scheduled sentencing for John Thomas on Jan. 5 to allow time for a sexual offender's assessment. The sexual assault charge requires Thomas to register his address with state police for the rest of his life. The Megan's Law assessment will help Kelley determine if Thomas is a sexually violent predator.

"The plea is good for the public because it means he doesn't get away with it, everybody will know about it, and he will have to register with the state police," Chief Deputy Prosecutor Christopher Moore said.

Carol Thomas pleaded no contest to the sole count of endangering the welfare of children. With no sentencing agreement with the commonwealth, Kelley will determine the woman's punishment Nov. 17. Possible penalties range from probation to a maximum of seven years in state prison. She remains free on $100,000 bail pending sentencing.

Moore said Carol Thomas was charged because she was aware of the abuse and "she did nothing to stop it."

Kelley ordered the couple to have no contact with the six children, who are together in another foster home.

THE PLEA

· 'No contest' is also known as nolo contendere, which means "I do not wish to contend."

· When a defendant in a criminal case enters the nolo contendere plea, he is not admitting guilt, but he is stating that he will offer no defense. The defendant, in effect, accepts the punishment for the charges. However, unlike a guilty plea, the no contest plea cannot be used against the defendant in a future legal proceeding.