Thomas Loguidice Sentenced to Life for 1994 Mall Assault
In an important development for the San Jose community, a convicted sex offender, Thomas Loguidice, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for a violent robbery and sexual assault that occurred over three decades ago. Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen’s office provided updates on the case on Tuesday.
Background of the Case
The crime in question took place on January 14, 1994, at the Oakridge Mall in South San Jose. At the time of the incident, the victim, a 21-year-old woman serving as the acting manager at the President Tuxedo store, was preparing to open the shop when she was violently confronted by Loguidice.
Loguidice, who was armed with a knife, forced the victim into a storage room, tied her to a pipe, and then proceeded to steal a small amount of cash before committing a sexual assault. This incident left the victim traumatized and the case remained unsolved for years.
Arrest and Trial
Despite multiple leads following the crime, the investigation went cold. It wasn’t until 2022 that the Cold Case Unit of the District Attorney’s office made a significant breakthrough. Investigators found a DNA match between evidence from the scene and that of Loguidice in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS).
Loguidice, now 68 years old, was convicted last year on charges of kidnapping. However, he could not be convicted for the sexual assault due to the expiration of the statute of limitations in 2000.
Previous Convictions and Current Sentencing
Loguidice is already serving a 40-year sentence for the sexual abuse of four children under the age of 13 in a separate case in San Benito County. The recent life sentence reflects the gravity of his actions and the commitment of law enforcement to ensure justice for victims.
According to DA Rosen, “I am grateful for the terrific work of our Crime Lab, investigators, and prosecutors to bring this perpetrator to justice.”
Impact of Cold Case Unit
The Cold Case Unit, established in 2011, has made impactful strides in solving previously unsolved cases. With a federal grant of $500,000 received in 2021, the unit expanded its focus to include sexual assault investigations, resulting in the resolution of 12 cold case sexual assaults, including five that were solved last year.
