Photo by Michael Starghill

Disgraced former Ward 5 councilmember Harry Thomas, Jr. was sentenced to 38 months in prison today for stealing over $350,000 in city funds and using them for a luxury SUV, trips to exotic locales and other personal expenses. With the sentencing, Thomas becomes only the second member of the D.C. Council to be sent to prison. (Former councilmember Douglas Moore was sentenced to six months in 1981 for violating the terms of his probation.) Thomas will also serve three years of probation. A ruling on restitution was put off today.

Thomas was sentenced by Judge John D. Bates during a hearing this morning; he pleaded guilty in January to the theft and resigned his seat on the D.C. Council.

Sentencing guidelines had put Thomas’ potential sentence between 41 and 51 months; prosecutors requested that he serve 46 months, while Thomas’ defense team proposed a lighter sentence of 18 months.

As part of a civil deal with D.C., Thomas is also on the hook for the money he stole. So far, he’s paid D.C. back some $70,000, but owes more than $230,000, not including the unpaid taxes on the money he stole. (He may also be on the hook for another $100,000, but Bates hasn’t yet decided if Thomas will have to pay that back.) A special election costing over $318,000 to fill the seat he vacated is scheduled for May 15.

Associate Editor Ben Freed was at the courthouse this morning and will have a complete report in the coming hours.