RICHARD THOMAS JR., WHO HELD A CIVILIAN CAPTIVE IN A HOTEL ROOM AND DISCHARGED A FIREARM AT LAW ENFORCEMENT, RECEIVES 20-YEAR SENTENCE

Evansville, IN – Prosecutor Diana Moers announces that, on April 11, 2023, Richard Howard Thomas, Jr., was sentenced to 20 years for holding a civilian captive in a hotel room and shooting at law enforcement who responded to the situation.

After a successful prosecution by Deputies Joshua Hutcheson and Ian Blair on March 8, 2023, the jury found Thomas guilty of three counts of attempted aggravated battery as a lesser included offense of attempted murder, a Level 3 felony; one count of criminal confinement, a Level 3 felony; one count of possession of methamphetamine, a Level 3 felony; one count of possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, a Level 4 felony; one count of battery by means of a deadly weapon, a Level 5 felony, and one count of criminal recklessness, a Level 6 felony. The maximum possible sentence was 36 years.

At yesterday’s sentencing, Deputy Hutcheson argued for 30 years executed in the Indiana Department of Correction. Magistrate Judge Ryan C. Reed of the Vanderburgh Circuit Court sentenced Thomas to a total sentence of 20 years executed in the Indiana Department of Correction due to each count running concurrently.

“Vanderburgh County is safer today because another dangerous person has been taken off the streets for a significant period of time to be served in the Indiana Department of Correction,” stated Prosecutor Moers, “We will continue to argue for severe sanctions for attempting to harm civilians and the law enforcement who act to protect them.”

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