A Ruston man was found guilty of burglary in a jury trial held Tuesday, April 19, 2022, in Caddo District Court.
The two-man, 10-woman jury in District Judge Mike Pitman’s court unanimously returned its verdict against John Arthur Thomas, 55, after three hours of deliberation.
Mr. Thomas was charged with simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling in connection with events of April 4, 2020, when he waited for the owner of a home in the 8900 block of Marlow Drive, in the South Park neighborhood, to leave. The jury determined that Thomas broke through a bathroom window and entered the residence, where the homeowner’s 14-year-old child heard him. The child later was able to identify Thomas in a photo lineup. The mother, upon returning to the home, was informed of the burglary and called police, who found Thomas’s cell phone outside the window. He also was captured on video walking up to the residence.
When he returns to face Judge Pitman at a date yet to be determined, Mr. Thomas faces at least one year, and up to 12 years, in prison.
Mr. Thomas was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Allison A. Melton-Griffin and Victoria Washington. He was defended by Elizabeth Gibson and Carter Lawrence.
