A Douglas County jury deliberated for 20 minutes Thursday afternoon before finding a 42-year-old man was a sexually violent predator, meaning he will to return to state custody for treatment.
Kodi A. Thomas was incarcerated in 1996 after he was convicted of attempted rape and aggravated burglary in Douglas County. Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson and Amy McGowan, a chief assistant district attorney, had argued that Thomas was likely to commit other sex crimes if he was released. The trial began Wednesday.
Dr. Janet Kohrs, a psychologist who contracts with the Kansas Department of Corrections, testified Wednesday that Thomas had received about 130 disciplinary reports, including one that said he had plans to sexually assault several female staff members in 1999. Branson said Thursday during his closing argument that doctors had also testified Thomas’ mental health conditions, including paranoid schizophrenia, could progressively get worse.
Defense attorney Elbridge Griffy had argued prosecutors did not prove that Thomas was unable to control his behavior.
Under the state’s Sexually Violent Predator law, Thomas will remain in state custody for treatment in Larned. He can also appeal the decision.
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