Sketch Artists vs. the Police vs. an Alleged Rapist

As the alleged “East Coast Rapist” hid his eyes behind shades and bent his head in court, the cops tried to keep his mug shot off TV in the hopes of solving three more assaults.

The alleged multiple-state serial rapist showed up in the Elm Street courthouse Monday morning to be arraigned on charges that he sexually assaulted a woman in 2007 while her baby slept in the same room. Authorities believe, based on a DNA match, that the 39-year-old New Haven man committed at least 17 sexual crimes in 12 states.

The defendant, Aaron Thomas, appeared before Judge Bruce Thompson in Courtroom B in a white short-sleeved T-shirt, khaki pants, paper on his feet, and a black baseball cap and sunglasses—the latter feature an unusual accessory for a courthouse appearance. The glasses stayed on throughout the appearance. He kept his head down. His hands were cuffed behind his back. He said nothing as Thompson ordered Thomas held on two separate cash bonds totaling $1.5 million and a prosecutor revealed that he “spontaneously” admitted in lock-up to having a “Jekyll and Hyde’’ personality. (The Independent is publishing Thomas’s name because he has allegedly admitted to committing some of the sexual crimes of which he has been accused and is reportedly cooperating with authorities.)

Three sketch artists representing news outlets sat feet away from Thomas in the front row of seats on the courtroom’s Church Street side. But it was hard to get a good look at Thomas’s face.

Which was good news for New Haven police.

Police have tried to keep Thomas’s face out of the media. CNN filed a Freedom of Information request this weekend to get his mug shot. The cops turned CNN down.

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