Suspected East Coast Rapist Refuses Plea
By: Ciara Brown
Updated: November 14, 2012
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA - The man believed to be the East Coast Rapist shocked the court Tuesday after he hesitated when asked to enter a guilty plea.
Now, he's headed to trial.
Aaron Thomas is accused of forcing three teenage trick-or-treaters into the woods and raping two of them on Halloween night in 2009. He was expected to plead guilty to rape and abduction charges. However, Thomas paused when asked how he pleaded.
Officials say the judge then called a recess, after which Thomas's attorneys announced the plea deal wasn't going forward.
The case will now go to trial January 14, 2013.
Thomas has been tied to 17 attacks stringing along more than a decade from the D.C. area up to Connecticut.
