Detectives Seeking Additional Sexual Assault Victims NR24185jl

Mid City Investigators with the Los Angeles Police Department’s Operations-West Bureau’s Special Assault Section (SAS) are seeking additional victims and witnesses in a series of sexual assaults in the Hollywood area.

On March7, 2023, an 18-year-old man reported that he was sexually battered by 49-year-old William Isaac Thomas at his residence in Hollywood Division. SAS investigators located additional evidence that Thomas committed additional sexual assaults against young men ranging from 17 to 21-years-old.

On May 7, 2024, The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office charged Thomas with six felony sexual assault charges and the Los Angeles Superior Court issued a warrant for his arrest for $1.525 million. Investigators from the LAPD Fugitive Warrant Section located Thomas out of state, arrested him and extradited him to Los Angeles. Detectives booked him on June 25, 2024 and he remains in custody pending arraignment in late July.

Thomas portrayed himself as a modeling agent and photographer and used his alleged status in the modeling world to attract victims. He claimed he could build their modeling careers forced them to submit to sexual assault under duress. Thomas threatened to ruin victims’ careers if they objected to his advances.

Detectives have identified six men that Thomas assaulted and are releasing the suspect’s booking photo because they believe the suspect is responsible for additional unreported sexual assaults.

“He preyed upon young men by promising them jobs and monetary opportunities he never delivered,” said Detective Brent Hopkins, a Special Assault Section supervisor. “Once he made them reliant upon him, the abuse began. Now that he is no longer able to harm these victims, hopefully more will be able to tell their story.”

Detectives are requesting that anyone with information that could lead to the identification of additional victims or witnesses to contact LAPD’s Operations-West Bureau, Special Assault Section, at 213-473-0447. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org. Lastly, tipsters may also download the “P-3 Tips” mobile application and select the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program.