Los Angeles police are asking for the public’s help in locating witnesses and potential victims in the case of a Hollywood photographer accused of sexually assaulting three young men who wanted to become models.
A statement from the Los Angeles Police Department said William Isaac Thomas Jr., 49, presented himself to young people as an industry expert and then “forced them to work under duress” after they hired him as an agent. Sexually assaulted.”
The district attorney’s office charged Thomas in May with six felonies, including sodomy, in connection with three men who were 18 to 20 years old at the time. The Los Angeles Police Department said Friday that detectives have identified three other clients Thomas allegedly sexually assaulted and believe he is “responsible for other unreported sexual assaults.”
Thomas was arrested out of state and extradited to Los Angeles, where he was jailed Wednesday, police said. He was being held on $1.5 million bail and could not be reached for comment. The charges could result in life imprisonment.
The investigation into Thomas began in March 2023, when an 18-year-old reported being “sexually abused” at the photographer’s residence, according to a Los Angeles Police Department news release. Police said sex crimes detectives uncovered further evidence that Thomas assaulted other young men aged between 17 and 21 and threatened to ruin their careers if they protested.
The alleged assaults occurred between 2017 and last year, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
“He preyed on young people by promising them jobs and financial opportunities that he never delivered,” said Los Angeles Police Department detectives. Brent Hopkins said in a statement. “Once he made them dependent on him, the abuse began.”
Detectives released a photo of Thomas after his arrest, saying: “Now that he can no longer harm these victims, hopefully more people will be able to tell their stories.”
