State v. Thomas

OPINION

WILLIAMS, Chief Justice.

The applicant, Carl J. Thomas (applicant or Thomas), appeals a Superior Court trial justice’s denial of his application for post-conviction relief. The applicant contends that his pleas of nolo contendere to charges of kidnapping, simple assault and battery, and three counts of sexual assault in the first degree were invalid because he was mentally impaired at the time of the plea hearing.

In 1994, Thomas allegedly kidnapped and physically and sexually assaulted his estranged wife, Barbara Thomas (wife). The applicant initially pled not guilty to the charges and…