At Washington County Superior Court, the jury had four charges in all to decide against former North Kingstown High School boys basketball coach Aaron Thomas. On Monday, jurors found Thomas not guilty on two felony counts of second-degree child molestation and second-degree sexual assault, and guilty on two misdemeanor counts of battery.
The split verdict means Thomas will face some consequences for subjecting his athletes to naked fat tests behind closed doors at his North Kingstown High School office. But he won’t be considered a sex offender.
“We are very satisfied that the jury saw the case as we did: no sexual intent whatsoever,” defense attorney John McDonald said.
Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha suggested the case against the coach might have been stronger given a longer statute of limitations.
Neronha said in a statement, “We believe that what took place here was not just bad judgment, it was, and always has been, criminal conduct.”
