Judge extends George Thomas sentence

A Knoxville judge has added time onto the sentence of one of the participants in the January 2007 kidnapping, torture, rape and murder of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom.  On May 17, a Davidson County jury sentenced George Thomas to a life sentence with the possibility of parole for his role in the crimes, leaving the chance Thomas could be released from prison at the age of 75.  But today, Judge Walter Kurtz ordered Thomas to serve two consecutive life sentences for the murders of Christian and Newsom, as well as an additional 25 years for the rape of each of the victims.   The new sentence will all but ensure Thomas will die in prison.  Thomas was originally convicted and sentence to life without parole in 2009, but he was granted a retrial when it was revealed Judge Richard Baumgartner was abusing prescription drugs during the trial.