FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 29, 2017
PRESS RELEASE
Thomas Jones to Serve 25 Years
FREDERICK – Thomas Jones, 36, of Houston, TX, appeared before the Honorable Scott L. Rolle and was sentenced to a total of 45 years in the Division of Correction, with all but 25 years suspended. Upon completion of his sentence, the defendant will be placed on 5 years of supervised probation, with the condition of no contact with the victim. The defendant will be required to register as a sex offender for life and will have to serve at least 50% of his sentence before being eligible for parole, as he was convicted of a crime of violence.
On September 22, 2017, a Frederick County jury returned guilty verdicts against Thomas Jones for 3 counts of Human Trafficking and a count of Second Degree Rape. Over the State’s objection, it was ruled that the 3 counts of Human Trafficking merged into one at sentencing.
On September 30, 2016, Officers from Frederick Police Department responded to Motel 8 for reported dispute. Upon arrival, Officers contacted the 17 year old victim in this case. The victim stated that she met the defendant in Houston, TX and he arranged to get her a greyhound bus ticket and that the defendant rode the bus up to Maryland with her. She had been staying with him in a hotel room for several days. The defendant repeatedly told the victim she had to prostitute herself to make money for the 2 of them, but she refused. She stated he also posted her name on an online escort service. The defendant brought a 45 year old co-worker, Marvin Armstrong/co-defendant, into the room to have the victim perform fellatio on him. When she refused and tried to leave the room, the defendant blocked the door and would not let her leave. The defendant told the victim that she could not leave the room until she had sex with himself and his co-worker. The victim later left the room to get ice and asked the desk clerk for help.
The State was represented by Chief Assistant State’s Attorney Laura Wilt and Assistant State’s Attorney Tammy Leache.
J. Charles Smith, III
State’s Attorney for Frederick County, Maryland