Chambersburg man charged in his third domestic abuse case

CHAMBERSBURG - A Chambersburg man who originally told police the cuts on his body were due to him "protecting himself" is now being held on $50,000 bail on allegations he assaulted a woman. 

Eddie Lee Thomas, 51, is charged with misdemeanor simple assault, according to court records. 

Court records show this is the third domestic abuse-related case Thomas has been charged in in seven years. 

Chambersburg police were called to the emergency room at Chambersburg Hospital on Nov. 20 for a report of a man who suffered cuts to his chest. Court documents show officers spoke with Thomas, who first claimed he was not sure how he got the injuries, which consisted of cuts and scratches on both his arms and chest. 

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Police then spoke with a woman in another room who said she and Thomas got into an argument the early morning of Nov. 17, but denied it became physical. She also told authorities Thomas' "blood stained clothing" was still inside a house on West Queen Street, and gave them the key to search the residence, documents state. 

When officers arrived, they noticed small traces of blood on a wall in the living room. Police said they also found several pieces of clothing with blood on them, but none showing any evidence of cutting. 

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Once Thomas was discharged, both he and the woman gave a statement to police. Thomas claimed the woman cut him with a knife multiple times, and admitted to striking her several times throughout the argument to "protect himself," according to documents.

The woman showed authorities the bruises on her body she said were caused by Thomas, including on her arms, back, neck, face and eye. She also had bruising on her neck officers thought was consistent with being strangled.  Police said it appeared her injuries did not match Thomas' account of the incident. 

Court records show Thomas' bail was increased from $25,000 due to a previous conviction related to domestic violence. 

Thomas pleaded no-contest to simple assault in connection with a 2011 domestic abuse incident, according to court records. He was charged in another domestic abuse case just a year later, but the victim dropped the charges, court records show. 

A preliminary hearing in the new case is scheduled for 1 p.m. Dec. 27 in Franklin County Central Court.