Markquice R. Thomas | Homicide Watch Trentonhttp://trenton.homicidewatch.org/suspects/markquice-r-thomas/Latest news about Markquice R. Thomasen-usFri, 29 Apr 2016 16:18:15 -0400Trenton man offered more than 60 years for two murdershttp://trenton.homicidewatch.org/2016/04/29/trenton-man-offered-more-than-60-years-for-two-murders/<p class="p1"><span class="s1">A Trenton man who has said he is not willing to spend a day in prison for allegedly killing two city men was hit with a jaw-dropping offer that guarantees he would spend the rest of his life in prison if he accepted it.</span></p> <a href="http://wordpress.homicidewatch.org/trenton/files/2015/03/Markquice-Thomas.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-3000" src="http://wordpress.homicidewatch.org/trenton/files/2015/03/Markquice-Thomas-240x300.jpg" alt="Markquice Thomas" width="240" height="300" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Markquice Thomas</p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Markquice “Tank” Thomas was indicted for the slaying of 22-year-old Jared Littlejohn, of Ewing, who was kidnapped and killed in September 2012 during a botched robbery, prosecutors said. </span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Thomas pleaded not guilty to killing Littlejohn when he was arraigned Friday before Judge Robert Billmeier. </span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">He previously pleaded not guilty to killing 44-year-old Joseph “Power God” Gaines, a former drug dealer turned city activist, two years later, in March 2014.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Prosecutors extended a “global” plea offer calling for Thomas to serve 62 years in prison. The deal packages two murder charges with a drug case. </span><span id="more-4120"></span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Under terms of the deal, Thomas would plead guilty to aggravated manslaughter and receive 28 years. That would run consecutively to a 30-year sentence for murder, along with a consecutive 4-year sentence in the drug case.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Littlejohn’s case remained cold until witnesses stepped forward, prosecutors said. Thomas was served with the murder charge in Littlejohn’s death while he was jailed in Gaines’ slaying. </span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Gaines, a former city drug dealer who had reportedly turned his life around to become a mentor for troubled city youth, was killed because of an outstanding drug debt, prosecutors said.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Thomas’ attorney, Robin Lord, has said her client would not take a deal “if it was for one year.”</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Lord raised hackles Friday about her client’s case possibly being transferred to another judge. She said she was opposed to the matter being handled by another judge. </span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Billmeier said he would pass Lord’s objections along to Peter Warshaw, the presiding criminal judge who has the final call.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Plea cutoff is set for Thomas’ next court appearance in June.</span></p> Isaac AviluceaFri, 29 Apr 2016 16:18:15 -0400http://trenton.homicidewatch.org/2016/04/29/trenton-man-offered-more-than-60-years-for-two-murders/Joseph GainesMarkquice R. ThomasTrenton man charged with murder won’t take deal if it’s for ‘a year,’ attorney sayshttp://trenton.homicidewatch.org/2015/10/26/trenton-man-charged-with-murder-wont-take-deal-if-its-for-a-year-attorney-says/<p class="p1"><span class="s1">A Trenton man charged with two murders has been offered a plea deal that would put him behind bars for nearly three decades for one of the murders.</span></p> <a href="http://wordpress.homicidewatch.org/trenton/files/2015/03/Markquice-Thomas.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-3000" src="http://wordpress.homicidewatch.org/trenton/files/2015/03/Markquice-Thomas-240x300.jpg" alt="Markquice Thomas" width="240" height="300" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Markquice Thomas</p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Markquice “Tank” Thomas is charged with the murders of 44-year-old Joseph “Power God” Gaines, a former drug dealer turned city activist, as well as the murder of 22-year-old Jared Littlejohn. </span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Littlejohn, of Ewing, was kidnapped and killed in September 2012 during a botched robbery, prosecutors have said. Two years later, in March 2014, Thomas killed Gaines over an outstanding drug debt, prosecutors have said.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Littlejohn’s case, which has not been indicted, remained cold until witnesses stepped forward, prosecutors said. Thomas was served with the murder charge in Littlejohn’s death while he was jailed in Gaines’ slaying.</span><span id="more-3692"></span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Thomas’ attorney, Robin Lord, said her client has entered not guilty pleas to the murders as well as to counts in a drug case. </span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">“We wouldn’t take it if it was one year,” Lord said of prosecutors’ offer. </span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Thomas and Gaines allegedly exchanged text message some time before the murder in which Gaines said he planned to pay off his debt, prosecutors have said. </span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Prosecutors believe the former city drug dealer who had reportedly turned his life around to become a mentor for troubled city youth was killed because of an outstanding drug debt.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Gaines had sent Thomas text messages sometime before he was slain telling Thomas he intended to pay off the debt, prosecutors said.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Thomas’ next appearance in court is set for Jan. 11.</span></p> Isaac AviluceaMon, 26 Oct 2015 15:46:40 -0400http://trenton.homicidewatch.org/2015/10/26/trenton-man-charged-with-murder-wont-take-deal-if-its-for-a-year-attorney-says/Joseph GainesMarkquice R. Thomas