WAKEFIELD, R.I. (AP) — Closing arguments are set to be delivered on Friday in the trial of Aaron Thomas, a former high school basketball coach from Rhode Island, who faces serious criminal charges. Authorities allege that Thomas, 57, repeatedly solicited male student-athletes to undress while alone with him under the pretext of conducting body fat assessments.
Thomas, who coached at North Kingstown High School from the 1990s until his resignation in 2021, has pleaded not guilty to two counts: second-degree child molestation and second-degree sexual assault. The trial commenced last month and has seen testimony from ten former students, with some of their accounts turning emotional as they recounted feelings of embarrassment over being subjected to body fat measurements while naked in front of their coach. One student even testified that Thomas appeared visibly aroused during what has been termed the “naked fat test.”
A critical aspect of the allegations revolves around the method Thomas allegedly employed during these tests. He would ask his male athletes whether they were "shy or not shy," and those who responded negatively were prompted to strip completely naked. This led to Thomas pinching various body areas, including sensitive regions near the groin and buttocks, using a caliper to assess body fat. During his own testimony, Thomas stated that throughout his career, he likely saw over 600 student-athletes, with an estimated “80%” of them removing their underwear for the tests, despite admitting that the removal was not a necessity.
In contrast to the allegations, four separate students testified in favor of the body fat tests. They claimed that these measurements were beneficial in enhancing their athletic performance. Thomas was the final witness to take the stand and during his third day of testimony, he made a notable admission. He apologized in court and confessed to lying to law enforcement about the nature of the tests when initially questioned about whether students were naked during them.
“I’m truly sorry that it occurred the way it occurred,” Thomas stated. He added that it was never his intention to hurt, embarrass, or cause discomfort to any of the student-athletes, asserting that the objective was solely for gaining a competitive advantage. Additionally, he characterized his previous actions as a “foolish thing” and acknowledged that he now understands how they could be interpreted in a negative light.
The investigation into Thomas began in late 2021 and involved interviews with over 30 former students, alongside teachers, coaches, administrators, and medical professionals. Despite numerous allegations spanning many years, the charges against Thomas specifically relate to two male students, one of whom was under the age of 14 at the time of the alleged misconduct, which is reported to have occurred between September 2000 and February 2002.
