Suspended Somerset County District Attorney Jeff Thomas was arraigned on new charges Monday, accused of assaulting his wife in May of last year.
According to online court documents, Thomas faces charges of simple assault, harassment and reckless endangerment.
Authorities say the investigation into the alleged assault began earlier this month when police responded to the Thomas’ residence for a report of a domestic disturbance, and was notified of the alleged assault from last May.
State police say during the early morning hours of May 15, 2021, Thomas’ wife allegedly FaceTimed her sister while the couple was driving from Johnstown to Somerset County.
According to the arrest affidavit, the sister told police that she witnessed Thomas punching his wife in the head and face, “at least ten times,” during the call.
Investigators say that when the sister yelled at Thomas during the call, he then hung up the phone.
After repeated attempts to contact Thomas’ wife, the sister told authorities that Thomas eventually answered the phone and told her, “nothing happened….you don’t know what you saw…she’s drunk.”
Troopers say the sister then drove to a residence in Windber Borough to “aid” Thomas’ wife.
Upon arriving at the scene, police say the sister found Thomas’ wife sitting on the bathroom floor, crying, and observed multiple marks and bruises to her head, neck, back, arms and legs.
Police say the sister took numerous photos of the injuries, which included abrasions to her scalp and hands, swelling and bruising to her face and cheekbone, and lacerations to her ear, as well as her clothes being torn.
According to the affidavit, Thomas’ wife refused medical treatment for said injuries.
Thomas was arraigned Monday in front of Magisterial District Judge Rick Varner and will be housed at the Cambria County Prison, on $25,000 bail, court dockets show.
His preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 5.
The Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General is handling the case, court dockets note.
