Following a short trial, Seth Thomas was found guilty by a Blaine County jury which recommended 20 years in jail.
Thomas, 45, of Fay, was charged in March 2022 with three counts of drug possession, all misdemeanors, and a single count of lewd acts or rape by instrumentation on a child under 16 years of age when the accused is more than three years older than the accuser. He was arrested when charged and remained in the Blaine County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bond.
The probable cause affidavit in the case indicates Thomas committed the act against a child 8 years old in the summer of 2021. The child was alone with the man in his living quarters only briefly and only once, according to the report. The assault occurred when the child brought some snacks in for Thomas, the report reads and ended when the child’s sibling came searching for the child.
Two forensic interviews were conducted, in which the details of the assault never varied. When interrogated by law enforcement, Thomas denied the event ever happened. His cell phone was taken as evidence.
Jury selection was accomplished Monday, August 14 and the trial commenced that afternoon. The arguments were completed before 3 p.m. Aug. 15 and the jury deliberated for less than an hour before returning the guilty verdict.
“We were pleased with the outcome,” said assistant district attorney Jenna Brown. “The jury was very attentive and did a good job,” she added.
Thomas will be formally sentenced Sept. 7.