Friends, Co-Workers Cheer for Thomas’ Freedom

Though he has never met Rickey Dale Thomas, Keith Hooper knows almost everything about him.

As the manager of Fuddruckers in Chula Vista for the past six months, Hooper had heard that Thomas was one of the restaurant’s best workers and the story of his arrest and extradition back to Sulphur Springs, Tex., last year for a crime he did not commit.

Fuddruckers played a major part in Thomas’ alibi when he produced a pay sheet that showed that he worked in Chula Vista the day an 89-year-old woman was robbed of $27 in Sulphur Springs.

But a jury didn’t believe Thomas. Because of state laws that mandate severe penalties against those who harm the elderly, and because of Thomas’ own criminal history, he was sentenced to life in prison.

So, when Hooper heard the news Wednesday morning that Thomas had been released from jail, he made sure every employee knew how to handle the questions and publicity that would follow.

“We wanted everyone to make sure that we were expressing joy over his release,” Hooper said. “I’ve got a half-dozen employees who worked with Rickey, and so many customers inquire about him. I’ve got people jumping up and down over this.”

On a poster fastened to the employee bulletin board, Hooper wrote: “Good news. Rickey Thomas has been released from jail today.”

Underneath, Hooper listed what might be the three most-asked questions and provided his employees with answers for easy reference.

When is he coming back? Within two weeks.

Will he be getting his job back at the same rate of pay? Yes.

What does everyone at Fuddruckers think of the news? We’re very happy and support his return to work here.

Thomas has a guaranteed job if he wants it. But some of his supporters, still angry at Fuddruckers for not taking a more active role in donating or raising money for Thomas’ legal bills, say they hope he finds another job.

“They weren’t supportive of him,” said Peggy Hunt, a friend of Thomas’ who helped organize fund-raising barbecues and a letter-writing campaign to the governor and attorney general of Texas. “They wouldn’t even put a jar in the restaurant for donations.”

Hooper said he was willing to hold a party for Thomas at Fuddruckers, but Hunt said it is more likely that a private affair will be held somewhere else, and a public gathering organized for May 9 will take place at a park next to the restaurant.

Before then, there’s a contingent planning to meet his flight and to get the air fare donated by a willing airline. Thomas is expected back in town Friday or Saturday after an appearance on the “Donahue” show in New York City.

For all the months that Thomas spent in the Hopkins County Jail in Sulphur Springs, Tex., Hunt and others, particularly his co-worker David Bump, pestered government officials in Texas and local news media about Thomas.

When his story was told on “Donahue,” it sparked national interest, and a contingent of supporters in Austin got involved in putting pressure on top Texas officials.

“In the 25 years I’ve been practicing law, I’ve never seen anything like this to the extent that third parties got so interested that they brought enough pressure to bear on a case,” said Clifton (Scrappy) Holmes, one of Thomas’ attorneys in East Texas.

Thomas moved to Chula Vista in April, 1989, as a fugitive rather than return to Arkansas from Tennessee, where he had been living with his brother and had violated his parole.

After leaving another job, he was hired the same day he applied to work at Fuddruckers and made friends easily at work and in the neighborhood.

He lived a crime-free life, but a routine traffic stop by the Chula Vista police showed he was wanted in Arkansas and Texas. He fought extradition to Texas but agreed to serve time on the parole violation in Arkansas.

Eventually, after gathering payroll sheets that showed he was at work the day of the robbery he was wanted for in Texas, he agreed to extradition and pushed for a speedy trial in Texas. After three days in court, a jury convicted Thomas, based mostly on the testimony of a Texas state trooper who swore that Thomas was one of three men he stopped in a van shortly after the robbery.

But Thomas’ friends and family never abandoned him.

“The people cared. The press cared,” said Chris Reeber, who was Thomas’ public defender in San Diego. “It was the freedom of the press that got Rickey freed.”

Reeber, who took advantage of a noontime break in a murder trial Wednesday to celebrate Thomas’ freedom with some friends, said he is working to pay for a month of lodging for Thomas, his fiancee and their baby.

About $2,700 has been raised in all, which will be used to pay for outstanding telephone bills to Texas and legal fees. Attorney Holmes said Wednesday that, as far as he is concerned, Thomas has no legal bills.

An insurance company has volunteered to pay for Thomas, his fiancee and their 2-year-old daughter to spend time at Sea World. Thomas said a visit there was at the top of his list of priorities.

“It’s about time they let the poor guy go,” said Ted Felber, who was Thomas’ boss at Fuddruckers before his arrest. “I can’t wait until he gets back. He’s such a good kid.”