Photographer exploited and raped teenage models: DA

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA — A Los Angeles photographer who claimed to be an expert in the modeling industry lured young models seeking to help them in their careers and then sexually abused them, Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón announced Friday.

William Isaac Thomas Jr., 49, faces life in prison if convicted of sexually assaulting three teenagers between 2017 and 2023, according to prosecutors.

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Gascón praised the young people for their courage in coming forward.

“The courage these young survivors have shown in coming forward after enduring this unimaginable trauma and suffering cannot be overstated, and we stand with them in their quest for justice and healing,” Gascón said in a written statement.

“The alleged actions of Mr. William Thomas Jr. are reprehensible. Using a position of power to prey on vulnerable teenagers is an egregious abuse of power that our society cannot and will not tolerate. We are determined to hold the perpetrator accountable for his actions and ensure that justice is served.”

According to prosecutors, Thomas sexually abused the first victim, then 18, as the victim was pursuing a modeling career in 2017, and the abuse continued through 2020. In 2020, Thomas developed a working relationship with a second victim, then 19-20 years old, who was also pursuing a modeling career and sexually abused the victim until 2023, prosecutors said. In 2022, Thomas began working with a third victim, then 19, and sexually abused her until 2023, prosecutors said.

“Each victim was represented by Thomas while pursuing his modeling career,” prosecutors said. “It is also alleged that several victims were particularly vulnerable and that the manner in which Thomas committed the offenses indicates planning, sophistication and professionalism.”

Thomas is accused of three counts of oral sex, two counts of sodomy by use of force and one count of attempted sodomy on an unconscious or sleeping victim.

Thomas was arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department’s Fugitives Unit on Tuesday and has been behind bars since then on bail of just over $1.5 million, according to jail records.

Thomas is being held on $1,525,000 bail. If convicted, Thomas faces a maximum sentence of life in federal prison.