MESSAGE FROM PROSECUTOR SHERRI BEVAN WALSH

Contact:  April Wiesner

(330) 643-8386

Thomas Guilty of Rape

(November 1, 2011… Akron) … Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh announced today that a jury found Daran Thomas, 21, of W. Long Street in Akron, guilty of Rape, a first-degree felony.

After initially meeting on Facebook, Thomas invited the victim over to his house. After watching some TV, Thomas started professing his love to the victim, telling her he wanted to marry her and have babies with her. Feeling uncomfortable, the victim wanted to leave and refused Thomas’ requests for sex. He raped the woman, threatening to hit her when she tried to stop him.

After the rape, the victim reported the crime and was treated at a local hospital. Thomas began calling and texting the victim while she was still at the hospital and continued to harass her, even threatening her on Facebook, over the course of the next few days.

Judge Lynne Callahan will sentence Thomas on December 14 at 11 a.m.

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