NEW BOSTON, Texas-Opening statements and testimony are expected to begin at the Bowie County Court-house this morning for a former soldier who blamed his identical twin when he was accused of sexually assaulting young girls in Colorado.
Aaron Gregory Lucas, 35, is facing similar charges in Bowie County for the alleged abduction and sexual assault of a 7-year-old girl. Lucas allegedly snatched the girl from a Texarkana, Texas, playground Dec. 19, 2009, in the 2000 block of 15th Street, according to a probable cause affidavit used to create the following account. 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.
Lucas is currently serving a sentence of 20 years to life assessed him in Colorado 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. DNA profiles are unique from individual to individual except in identical twins. Aaron Lucas eventually dropped his "evil twin defense" and pleaded guilty in 2013.
DNA from the Colorado cases allegedly matches DNA collected in the Bowie County case. 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.