Man Who Posed As Hollywood Agent Charged With Three Sexual Assaults

Bruce Haring

29 June 2024 at 3:39 pm·1-min read

Los Angeles police have charged a photographer with sexually assaulting three young men aspiring to be models.

The police are searching for witnesses to the alleged crimes and for more potential victims.

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Police claim William Isaac Thomas Jr., 49, presented himself as an industry expert to young men. After being hired as their agent, he allegedly “forced them to submit to sexual assault under duress,” according to an LAPD statement.

On March 7, 2023, an 18-year-old man reported that he was sexually battered by Thomas at his residence in Hollywood Division. Investigators located additional evidence that Thomas committed sexual assaults against young men ranging from 17 to 21-years-old.

The district attorney’s office charged Thomas in May with a half-dozen felonies, including sodomy, in connection with three men. The LAPD said Friday they believe Thomas is “responsible for additional unreported sexual assaults.”

Thomas was arrested and extradited from out of state to L.A., where he was jailed Wednesday, police said. He is being held on $1.5-million bail.

“He preyed upon young men by promising them jobs and monetary opportunities he never delivered,” LAPD Det. Brent Hopkins said in a statement. “Once he made them reliant on him, the abuse began.”

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