Thomas resigns after indictment; hearing cancelled

Prince George’s school board members say they’re relieved after resignation

Thomas’ resignation comes weeks after a host of county officials – including some school board members and County Executive Jack Johnson – called for Thomas to step down.

‘‘Now we can get somebody in place as quickly as possible,” school board member Rosalind Johnson (Dist. 1) of Laurel said Wednesday. ‘‘I think this should have happened a long time ago.”

Board Chairman Owen Johnson, Jr., said Thomas’s resignation would allow the school board to fill his spot and resume its business.

‘‘I’m just excited about the fact that we’re able to move forward . . .” Johnson said. ‘‘[I] applaud him for his sensitivity. It allows for us to get on with the business of education.”

Jack Johnson will appoint the next board member. Interested candidates are asked to send resumes to his office, said spokesman John Erzen.

Johnson said Thursday that a half dozen people expressed interest in the open board spot. Johnson, who plans on meeting with County Council Chair Camile Exum to discuss a timeline, said to expect a deliberate selection process.

‘‘I’m not going to rush it,” he said. ‘‘We want people that are going to be cooperative with the leadership of the school board and [Schools CEO John E. Deasy].”

Thomas, who was elected to an at-large seat in November, was charged in May with the third-degree sex offense – a charge applied when no violence or coercion is involved. Thomas, 26, was accused of having sex with a Forestville Military Academy student at least three times at his District Heights home between August 2004 and October 2005. The student was 15 at the time. The formal indictment came Tuesday.

‘‘These are very shocking allegations of a former teacher and current school board member exploiting his position of authority to allegedly prey on an underage student,” Prince George’s State’s Attorney Glenn F. Ivey said.

Ivey said he expected the trial to start sometime in the fall. Thomas faces up to 10 years in prison.

Other students were interviewed in the investigation, but nothing rose to the point where charges were appropriate, Ivey said.

‘‘There are no other charges forthcoming at this point,” he said.

In a letter sent out Wednesday by Thomas’ attorney, Bruce L. Marcus, Thomas’ decision was characterized as one for the benefit of the school system.

‘‘... Consistent with his commitment to the citizens of Prince George’s County, he did not wish to leave the board shorthanded and the children of Prince George’s County without a full complement of board members,” the letter said. ‘‘It is with great sadness that Mr. Thomas has asked that we tender his resignation.”

The letter also said Thomas ‘‘strongly desires to continue his public service,” but would respect to the Prince George’s school board’s wishes.

Late last month, Thomas asked the state school board to delay his hearing until after his criminal case was over, which would have allowed him to keep his seat on the school board in the coming months. The state board voted unanimously to deny the request and scheduled the now-canceled hearing to give Thomas an opportunity to appeal. Gov. O’Malley would have had to sign off on a formal ouster of Thomas from his elected position.

E-mail Dennis Carter at dcarter@gazette.net.