SAN BERNARDINO >> In an attempt to show convicted killer John Wayne Thomson’s violent past, the prosecution called to the stand on Monday a witness to testify about a violent rape in 1990.
Thomson, 53, of Washington was found guilty last month of first-degree murder in the 2006 death of a Beaumont businessman. He was also convicted of second-degree robbery, aggravated mayhem, carjacking and two counts of attempted carjacking from a local crime spree.
He is now facing the death penalty.
During the second phase of the trial Bradly Bright, a retired Washington state law enforcement officer, took the stand to talk about an incident in 1990 where Thomson was pulled over for speeding in Cowlitz County.
As officers were handling that call, a disheveled woman came driving up to the scene frantically yelling that Thomson had just raped her, Bright testified.
The woman, known in court only as Jane Doe 3, told officers that she and Thomson met up earlier that day and went to an event together.
When they left the event, Thomson was too drunk to drive so Jane Doe 3 offered to drive him to her house and let him stay in her spare bedroom. While they were at her house, Thomson made sexual advances toward her, Bright testified according to the woman’s story.
Jane Doe 3 refused Thomson’s advances, then went to her own room. She told officers she locked the door, changed into pajamas and got into bed, Bright said.
Thomson, who has been convicted of multiple rapes, forced his way into her bedroom and raped her, the woman said.
“When the assault was over, he told her to go take a shower,” Bright said.
“To wash off the evidence?” Supervising Deputy District Attorney Robert Bulloch asked.
“Yes,” Bright said.
Thomson then told her to get dressed and ordered the woman to drive him back to his car, Bright said.
After she dropped Thomson off at his vehicle the woman drove around the small town looking for him, which led her to the scene.
“She was angry and wanted something done about it,” Bright said. “It was obvious to me that something very serious had happened to her.”
At the scene, Thomson told officials that the sexual intercourse was consensual but he eventually pleaded guilty to rape.
In summer 2006, Thomson fatally stabbed 55-year-old Charles Ray Hedlund of Lucerne Valley. Hedlund’s abandoned pickup truck was found in the Cajon Pass on Aug. 3, 2006.
Two days later, Hedlund’s body was found by a search crew beneath brush and branches. Hedlund had been bludgeoned and stabbed several times in the head, chest, leg and hands, authorities said.
On Aug. 7, 2006, Thomson attacked a 70-year-old man with a hammer and stole his car, authorities said. That same day, he tried to steal cars from two different women, authorities said, and he was eventually captured by two witnesses in Victorville and held until he was taken into custody.
The prosecution said Thomson’s crime spree started earlier that year in Washington state, where he is also charged with two other 2006 homicides that happened within about a month of Hedlund’s death.
He later stole a car and drove it to Southern California — first to Riverside, then the High Desert, authorities said.
