BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — Parole was denied for a man convicted of raping a mother behind a Vons, beat her, carjack her before she jumped out of the car in southeast Bakersfield in 1996.
The California Board of Parole Hearings (BPH) denied release to convicted rapist, 46-year-old CC Rider Thomas.
On February 5, 2025, BPH found that Thomas continues to pose a current and unreasonable risk to public safety.
The Kern County District Attorney’s Office said on March 10, 1996, Thomas attacked and raped a 36-year-old mother of four behind the then Vons’ Shopping Center on White Lane and South H Street in Bakersfield.
The victim was behind Vons’ looking in trash receptacles for items of value that had been discarded when two men approached her. According to the DA’s office, the victim said the two men scared her and decided to get back to her car. When she got to her car, Thomas grabbed her from behind.
The DA’s office said the victim struggled and screamed. Thomas hit her in the mouth. As a result, the victim fell to the ground, causing her front teeth to perforate and protrude through her lower lip. Once inside the victim’s vehicle, Thomas demanded that she remove her pants, or he would kill her. Thomas called the victim derogatory names as she cried.
According to the DA’s office, Thomas’ crime partner then went inside the victim’s vehicle and told her to sit in the front passenger seat. Thomas drove off with the victim still inside her car. As the car rounded a corner, she opened the car door and threw herself out of the vehicle, seriously injuring her elbow.
A witness saw her exiting the vehicle and immediately called 911. DNA testing was able to confirm that Thomas had committed the rape.
On June 12, 1997, a Kern County jury found Thomas guilty of rape with great bodily, kidnapping in the commission of a carjacking with great bodily injury, and carjacking with great bodily injury. On July 10, 1997, a Kern County judge sentenced Thomas to two life terms with the possibility of parole, plus an additional 5 years.
On February 5, 2025, the BPH conducted Thomas’ second parole hearing. Thomas has served nearly 29 years in prison. The commissioners focused on Thomas’ insight into his violent rape of the victim, institutional behavior, substance abuse history, programming, limited sex offender programming, and parole plans. The Kern County District Attorney’s Office asked the BPH to deny parole. The BPH found that Thomas was not suitable for parole and posed a current unreasonable risk of danger to society.
The Board of Parole has the option of denying an inmate parole for a period of 15, 10, 7, 5 or 3 years. Thomas’ commissioners issued a three-year denial.
District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer commented by saying, “I believe anyone who learns about this case will agree on the horrific nature of the circumstances. Our office is not only committed to representing the victim and ensuring full accountability, but also to protecting the public. Thomas’ release would pose a significant risk to the community, and we stand firm on opposing his release.”
