A former soldier who blamed his identical twin when he was accused of sexually assaulting young girls in Colorado is scheduled for trial in Bowie County next month.
Aaron Gregory Lucas, 35, is serving 20 years to life in a Colorado prison for assaults on a number of young girls, some of whom he approached while wearing his Army uniform, according to multiple news reports. Aaron Lucas initially blamed the crimes on his twin brother, Brian Frederick Lucas, 35, claiming the DNA linking him to the assaults wasn't his.
Texarkana, Texas, investigators believe Aaron Lucas is responsible for a 2009 abduction and sexual assault on a 7-year-old girl because DNA collected after that assault matches DNA in the Colorado cases.
Aaron Lucas allegedly grabbed the girl from behind Dec. 19, 2009, on a playground in the 2000 block of 15th Street. Aaron Lucas allegedly took the girl to the parking lot of a shopping center on New Boston Road in Texarkana, got in the backseat of a car with her and removed her clothes. "The victim stated she screamed and the suspect told her to shut up or he would kill her," the affidavit states.
After allegedly assaulting the young girl, Aaron Lucas allegedly drove her back to the playground and released her. Investigators learned in 2013 that Aaron Lucas' DNA matched the DNA from the Texarkana assault, the affidavit states. The Texarkana girl picked Aaron Lucas' picture from a photo lineup the same year.
Aaron Lucas' initial "evil twin" defense in Colorado ended in a plea bargain in 2013. His parole eligibility date is listed as Nov. 26, 2022, on the Colorado Department of Corrections website. In a strange twist to the "evil twin" case, Brian Lucas was convicted earlier this year of sexual abuse in Alabama. Brian Lucas inappropriately touched the 16-year-old daughter of family friends while spending the night at their home Dec. 30, 2013, according to news reports. Brian Lucas was sentenced to three years in prison followed by three years of supervision and must register as a sex offender. Brian Lucas began serving his time in June. Aaron Lucas was indicted by a grand jury in Bowie County in December for aggravated kidnapping and aggravated sexual assault of a child.
Aaron Lucas filed a speedy trial motion with Bowie County, which prompted movement on the case. When Aaron Lucas gave Bowie County officials notice, they were required to ready the case for trial within 180 days or dismiss the charges. Assistant District Attorney Lauren Richards recently filed a motion giving the defense notice she intends to introduce evidence of similar crimes committed by Aaron Lucas in Colorado and Alabama at his trial in Bowie County.
If convicted, Aaron Lucas faces five to 99 years or life in a Texas prison on each count.