No verdict after third day of jury deliberations in NK ‘naked fat test’ scandal

WAKEFIELD, R.I. (WLNE) — Day three of deliberations in the Aaron Thomas “naked fat test” scandal ended without a verdict.

The jury had some clarification questions for the attorneys Thursday.

“This is old fashioned criminal law where it’s kind of a ‘he said, she-said’ type of situation,” Ken Schreiber of Schreiber and Schreiber Law said. “There are 12 jurors and it is beyond reasonable doubt.”

Aaron Thomas, the former North Kingstown boys’ basketball coach, was accused of performing “naked fat tests” on students through his fitness testing program, which he testified was strictly to help student athletes with their confidence and performance in sports.

“The most compelling piece of evidence that came in was the fact that Aaron Thomas admitted to this jury, that when he was being questioned about this, he lied to the police,” Schreiber said.

Thomas was charged with one count of second-degree child molestation and one count of second-degree sexual assault.

On May 14, there was a hiccup in the four-hour period of deliberations when a juror was dismissed because of a “potential conflict of interest”.

The jury had to restart the process because the alternate was not with the jury at the beginning of deliberations the day before.

If the jury finds Thomas not guilty of the two felony charges, they will also consider a lesser misdemeanor charge of battery.

Deliberations will continue on May 19 at 10 a.m.