Man Convicted Of Sexual Battery Faces Possible Life Sentence: DA

DOUGLASVILLE, GA — A man that prosecutors say punched his girlfriend, threatened her with an assault rifle and then raped her faces a possible life sentence after a jury convicted him on sexual battery and assault charges.

Tyrek Thomas, 22, was convicted by a Douglas County jury of aggravated sexual battery and multiple counts of aggravated assault, according to a statement Monday from the Douglas County District Attorney’s office.

The charges stem from an argument between Thomas and his girlfriend in September 2020. Prosecutors say that Thomas began to punch his girlfriend in the face and stomach, then stomp on her “as she lay defenseless on the ground,” the statement said. He also threatened her with an assault rifle.

After Thomas forced the victim into his car, she passed out, then awoke to find herself being sexually assaulted, prosecutors said. When they returned to the residence, Thomas sexually assaulted her again. She finally was able to escape several days later after convincing him to let her go home.

Thomas was then arrested, given a pretrial bond and released. But after prosecutors learned of another sexual-assault allegation against Thomas, they had him indicted, arrested and this time held without bond.

Multiple witnesses testified against Thomas at the trial. After hearing all evidence, the jury unanimously convicted Thomas of four felony counts, leaving him to face a maximum sentence of life plus 60 years in prison. Sentencing will be set for a later date.

“It is unimaginable the trauma had to endure at the hands of the defendant,” Douglas County Distrcit Attorney said in a statement. “The jury returning a just verdict and holding the defendant accountable for his heinous conduct is a small step in the victim’s journey to healing.”

A separate rape case against Thomas is pending.