Published: September 29, 2006 04:04 pm         

Court upholds child molesting conviction

TERRE HAUTE — An appeals court has upheld the conviction of a Terre Haute man tried in 2005 for molesting three children under age 12.

David A. Thomas, 46, of Terre Haute was convicted at trial of the crimes committed from March 2001 to December 2003. His three female victims testified against him in Vigo County Superior Court Division 1. Judge Michael H. Eldred sentenced Thomas to 30 years in prison.

In his appeal, Thomas asked the Indiana Court of Appeals to consider whether one of the children’s pre-trial statement to investigators should have been recorded, as well as whether there was enough evidence to support his convictions and whether he was properly sentenced.

The Court of Appeals issued its ruling Thursday affirming Thomas’ conviction on five counts of child molesting, and the sentence.