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Man charged in woman's brass knuckles beating, attempted carjacking

Posted at 1:56 PM, Aug 12, 2017
and last updated 2017-08-13 09:48:45-04

The man accused of using brass knuckles to beat a Greenfield woman during an attempted carjacking made his first court appearance on Saturday. Police say he's responsible for more.

The court commissioner called the allegations against 18-year-old Corleon Thomas ‘stunning’.
Thomas is believed to be connected to four attempted carjackings. Court records show Thomas told police he helped getting away with three.

"Absolutely, you are out of control," said court commissioner Kevin Costello.

It took nearly 3 weeks to track down Thomas, who was wanted in connection to rash of alleged violent carjackings.

"Weapons were involved to threaten people, brass knuckles to harm somebody in a very, very bad way," said Costello.

The most infamous case dates back to July 21 when police believe Thomas brutally attacked a woman sitting in her car in a Greenfield grocery store parking lot.

"I tried kicking and hitting him. I couldn't do it, I couldn't get him," said the anonymous victim.

The victim did not want us to share her name because she's afraid for her safety, but she bravely showed her wounds and talked to TODAY’S TMJ4 last month about the traumatic experience.

She said a can of pepper spray kept her in the fight.

"As soon as I felt it I knew I was going to be okay like I was gonna get him," she said.

Court records show Thomas’ suspected carjacking spree started a couple days before. Thomas admitted to helping stealing a car in Wauwatosa on July 19th, another in Milwaukee a week later, then another the following week at a Milwaukee gas station.

"There's also a confession by you in each and every one of those," said Costello. 

The last vehicle was the same one he used in a high speed chase.

"It ends with a fleeing on August 8 that alleges you were traveling 105 miles per hour going on the wrong side of the street," said Costello.

Thomas is now behind bars on 12 charges and a $200,000 cash only bond. If convicted on all of the charges he could face up to 120 years in prison. Thomas is due back in court for a preliminary hearing next month.