Initially charged with assaulting his girlfriend and different crimes, former College of Utah soccer participant Tavion Thomas resolved his case on Friday by pleading responsible to 2 third-degree felonies.
Prosecutors agreed to dismiss eight of the ten counts towards him, in trade for his responsible pleas to unlawfully buying a monetary card and violating an order to not contact his girlfriend.
After agreeing to the plea deal in third District Court docket, Thomas stated on Twitter: “With humble delight I take full accountability for my actions. With the assistance of my superb attorneys, household and fantastic staff of psychological wholesome professionals, I’m past blessed, therapeutic and certain to be the most effective me that I will be.”
His pleas are being held in abeyance, which implies he isn’t but convicted. If Thomas, 23, efficiently serves three years of probation, the fees will probably be diminished and his responsible pleas will probably be entered to 2 class A misdemeanors.
The phrases of his probation require him to abstain from alcohol and unlawful medicine — and prohibit him from being round others who’re taking them or ingesting. He can’t frequent locations the place alcohol is the primary merchandise bought. He must undergo drug and alcohol testing, and he can not possess a firearm.
If Thomas violates the phrases of his probation, he might be sentenced for his third-degree felonies, each of which carry a punishment of as much as 5 years in jail.
Three of the unique costs have been third-degree felony counts of home violence, which alleged Thomas threatened his girlfriend with a knife on April 4, took away her cellphone and automobile keys and advised her that if she referred to as authorities, she can be “useless earlier than the police arrive.” These costs have been dismissed as a part of the plea settlement.
Whereas he pleaded responsible to at least one rely of later calling that lady in violation of an order to not contact her, three an identical counts alleging continued calls have been dismissed. Two class A misdemeanors, which alleged Thomas unlawfully possessed one other particular person’s identification paperwork, additionally have been dismissed.
Thomas’ girlfriend argued at an April 21 listening to that he was not a hazard to her. Salt Lake County District Legal professional Sim Gill stated Friday that her enter was thought-about in crafting the plea discount.
“Each time you’ve home violence conditions, you depend on the proof,” Gill stated. “And also you additionally strive to determine the proportionate response by way of reaching these aims. When the staff met and evaluated every thing with everybody, together with our sufferer, it was determined this was the most effective final result that we might have.”
In a joint assertion, protection legal professional Skye Lazaro and NFL Agent Jimmy Gould identified: “Because the onset of this case Mr. Thomas has maintained his innocence with respect to the allegations of home violence and assault. These costs have now been dismissed with prejudice.”
Their assertion continued: “We recognize the work of the Salt Lake County District Legal professional’s Workplace to convey this case to a simply decision. Mr. Thomas has readily taken accountability for the fees included within the plea settlement. He has taken this chance to give attention to getting himself mentally wholesome and prepared for the following step. Mr. Thomas is deeply grateful for those who have supported him and proceed to assist him via this course of.”
As a part of his probation, Thomas must full a psychological well being and home violence analysis in 30 days. He additionally should take prescribed remedy.
Earlier than the charged have been filed, Thomas was seen as a distinguished NFL Draft prospect. He was invited to the NFL Mix in March after serving to lead Utah to back-to-back Rose Bowl appearances. However Thomas has since gone undrafted and he has not obtained any invitations to rookie minicamps up thus far.
A unbroken safety order prohibits Thomas from contacting a earlier girlfriend, who he’s accused of harassing in Bluffdale. Based on a police report obtained by The Salt Lake Tribune, Thomas’ then-girlfriend advised police he harassed her within the wake of a breakup, repeatedly calling her, sending her direct messages on varied apps and sending greater than 350 textual content messages after he she advised him to cease contacting her.
Thomas was charged Jan. 8 with a category B misdemeanor rely of digital communication harassment.
Court docket paperwork didn’t state who owned the monetary card Thomas pleaded responsible to unlawfully buying, or the identification he had been accused of unlawfully possessing. The fees stated these gadgets have been found in his possession on April 11, which might have occurred whereas he was in jail.
Thomas was held with out bail for practically three weeks in April. Thomas’ girlfriend, whom he lives with, advised police she had advised they fall asleep after he pulled a knife on her. “She stated she didn’t sleep in any respect as a result of she was afraid of Thomas as he had the knife laying subsequent to him within the mattress,” court docket paperwork state.
She was in a position to depart the following day, April 5, and Thomas was arrested and booked in jail. He was ordered to not have any communication along with her, however referred to as her greater than 21 occasions between April 6 and 9, 4 costs alleged. He pleaded responsible to a kind of counts.
There isn’t a longer any order proscribing his contact along with her. She appeared in court docket a number of occasions and argued towards a protecting order, saying Thomas wanted to start out taking his remedy.
“Tavion isn’t a hazard to me,” the lady stated at Thomas’ detention listening to on April 21. “Your Honor, Tavion, he’s my protected area. {Couples} get into arguments on a regular basis and, in fact, home violence is one thing you by no means wish to have occur, however you’ll be able to’t management that when somebody is having an emotional argument and a breakdown.”