2.14.11: Thomas Sentenced To More Than 13 Years for Violating Probation by Committing Armed Home Invasion
February 14, 2011 -- Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge W. Michel Pierson sentenced Raymond Thomas today to 13 years and four months in prison for violating the terms of his probation by participating in an armed home invasion.
The Office of the State's Attorney for Baltimore city sought and secured the sentenced through a proceedign in which it alleged a violation of the defendant's probation based on his falure to obey all laws while under supervision. In November 2008, Thomas was sentenced to 14 years in prison, with 13 years and four months suspended, and to three years of supervised probation for his plea of guilty to a narcotics-related charge.
One month later, on December 14, 2008, Thomas and another man allegedly used a set of lost keys to break into a woman's home in Washington Village, threaten her life with handguns, and steal various possessions. Baltimore City Police apprehended Thomas at the scene of the crime. However, a Baltimore City Circuity Court jury found Thomas not guilty in Sepember 2010 of armed robbery and other charges arising from the incident.
That State then proceeded with the probatio nviolation hearing where the burden of proof is based on a preponderance of the evidence rather than the higher burden of beyond a reasonable double used in criminal cases. Judge Pierson found that the State had met its burden and imposed the balance of the previously suspended sentence.