HARRISBURG, Pa. (WJAC) — The Pennsylvania Supreme Court Disciplinary Counsel has suspended the law license of Somerset County District Attorney Jeff Thomas indefinitely as a sexual assault case against him continues to move through the courts.
The per curiam order filed Wednesday states, "This order should not be construed as removing Respondent from elected office and is limited to the temporary suspension of his license to practice law."
Thomas has already taken a self-imposed leave of absence from the position since his arrest last month.
It's not known how long the board has been investigating Thomas. The disciplinary counsel conducts investigations and hearings in private and only releases their outcomes after the process is complete and punishment warrants public announcement.
State police said in their charging affidavit that Thomas went into a Windber woman's home on September 18th uninvited. When he wouldn't leave, they say he struck the woman, held her down, and sexually assaulted her.
Last week, prior to a preliminary hearing, a rape charge was dropped against him but the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office, which has taken over prosecution of the case, added new felony charges in its place. He waived his preliminary hearing and a formal arraignment via Zoom is scheduled for November 4th.
The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office tells 6 News that Thomas faces up to 50 years in prison if he is convicted on all charges.
Thomas, through his attorney, has denied any wrongdoing in the case.
The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts released a letter this month showing that Thomas tried to have charges withdrawn against his wife Amy after investigators said she admitted to assaulting Jeff by digging her fingernails into his arm during an argument, according to the affidavit in the case.
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