Plea Deal Set for Attempted Homicide Case

Anthony Thomas, of 929 Washington St., who faced charges of attempted homicide after while breaking into his ex-girlfriend's apartment, waived his right to a preliminary hearing Friday in front of District Judge Gay Elwell.

After lengthy negotiations between Assistant District Attorney Richard Pepper and public defender Mark Minotti, Thomas agreed to plead guilty to one charge of aggravated assault in exchange for charges of attempted homicide, burglary, aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment, and criminal mischief being dropped.

Police say Thomas, 31, broke into the West Ward apartment of ex-girlfriend Nikyndra Boatwright on Sept. 20 by breaking a dining room window to gain access.

When Boatwright's new boyfriend Bilal Barrow entered the dwelling upon returning home, Thomas attacked him and stabbed him with a knife several times, police said.

Barrow managed to escape his attacker, running to a pizza shop about two blocks away, and was transported by ambulance to St. Luke's Hospital with serious stab wounds to his body, neck and hand, reports say.

Police say Thomas was found covered in blood after police followed a bloody trail several blocks from the crime scene to Thomas' apartment.

Thomas also agreed to a plea bargain from an earlier incident when Thomas allegedly attacked Boatwright, who had a restraining order against him, on July 26.

In that case, Thomas agreed to plead guilty to simple assault in exchange for harassment charges being dropped.

Minotti said both victims had also agreed to the plea deals.

Trials for both cases will be set for some time in January, court officials said.

Thomas remains in Northampton County Prison, where he has been lodged since Sept. 20.