EL CAJON – A door-to-door cleaning supply salesman from Louisiana faces a prison sentence of 80 years to life for raping an El Cajon high school student in her home.
Archie Lee Thomas, 20, was convicted Monday of five counts of rape, assault with intent to commit rape, rape with a foreign object and forced oral copulation, said prosecutor Terrie Roberts.
Superior Court Judge Patricia K. Cookson ordered Thomas to remain held in jail without bail pending a Dec. 11 sentencing hearing.
The 18-year-old woman Thomas was convicted of raping testified in a court hearing in May that Thomas came to the front door of her family home in April while she was home alone and forced his way in.
The woman testified she tried to fight off Thomas as he dragged her from room to room. She said she finally gave in because she feared Thomas would kill her.
Thomas worked for a Georgia-based company that moves door-to-door salesmen around the country selling cleaning products, prosecutor Roberts said. She said the company no longer does business in San Diego County.
The company has a supervisor drive a van to drop off salesmen at various locations and pick them up once they've completed working the selected neighborhoods, Roberts said.
“That's how we were able to catch him (Thomas). He was waiting for his ride,” Roberts said.
Police said that after Thomas raped the woman, he continued going door to door through the neighborhood trying to sell cleaning products. Thomas was arrested a few blocks from the woman's home.
Ray Huard: (619) 542-4597; ray.huard@uniontrib.com
