Basketball Coach Aaron Thomas Criminally Charged For Conducting Naked ‘Fat Test’ On Players

Aaron Thomas, the former basketball coach of North Kingstown High School in Rhode Island from the 1990s until last year, faces second-degree child molestation and second-degree sexual assault charges.

Thomas, 55, was criminally charged by authorities who say that throughout his lengthy career asked male students to get completely naked while alone with him so he could check their body fat.

His arraignment is scheduled for August 19.

“I want to make it very clear that these are allegations that we have brought, and so we have a case to prove now and we’re going to attempt to do that. If we’re successful in that mission then there will come a time for sentencing,” said Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha. “But I want to keep our focus on where it needs to be, that we have a case to prove and we’re going to make sure that we do everything we can to try to do that.”

Prosecutors said the first case involves a person under 14 that the alleged contact happened between 2000 and 2002.

“Count Two alleges that the defendant engaged in sexual contact with a second victim by force or coercion or while engaging in the medical treatment of the victim for the purpose of sexual arousal, gratification or stimulation,” the attorney general said in a release.

The second alleged sexual contact happened between September 1, 2019, and February 22, 2020.

“Aaron Thomas adamantly denies that any criminal activity took place. The sole purpose of the testing program was to better the athletic performance of North Kingstown High School’s student-athletes. Hundreds of student-athletes participated in this program over the course of many years and greatly benefited from it. Mr. Thomas looks forward to his day in court and the opportunity to clear his name,” Thomas’s attorney, John MacDonald, said in a statement.