Man who came to Daytona Beach with guns in support of Othal Wallace gets 2 years in prison
A prosecutor said an Arizona man chose the wrong cause to support when he flew to Daytona Beach to raise money for the legal defense of Othal Wallace, who is accused of killing a Daytona Beach Police officer.
But where Kentay Thomas, 32, really went wrong was bringing along two firearms, body armor and ammunition and walking around with a concealed gun even though his Arizona concealed carry permit had been suspended, Assistant State Attorney Mark Interlicchio Jr. said.
Circuit Judge Elizabeth Blackburn found Thomas’ actions concerning during a hearing on Friday when she adjudicated him guilty on two counts of carrying a concealed firearm and sentenced him to two years in prison followed by five years probation. He received credit for 289 days time served.
Wallace had pleaded no contest to both charges in an open plea to the court, meaning there was no agreement with prosecutors.
Each charge was a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison. Blackburn noted that Thomas had only a minor criminal record and that he was not charged with a violent act.
“Although not violent in nature, they cause great concern for the safety of this community,” Blackburn said.
The judge also ordered Thomas to forfeit the two guns and body armor that were seized during his arrest.
Blackburn said Thomas’ wife testified that he was a good husband and a good father to his three children.
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Thomas, who was wearing a face mask during the hearing, did not make any statements and only spoke to his lawyers. He appeared to look toward his wife sometimes as she sat in the gallery before testifying.
Thomas was arrested on July 8, 2021, just 15 days after Othal Wallace was accused of gunning down Daytona Beach Police Officer Jason Raynor on June 23 in an apartment building parking lot, according to a charging affidavit.
Raynor died 55 days later. The community rallied around Raynor and his family, offering prayers and money to help pay for the fallen officer’s medical care.
Wallace is being held at the Volusia County Branch Jail awaiting trial on a charge for first-degree murder. State Attorney R.J. Larizza’s office is seeking the death penalty.
Kentay Thomas arrives in Florida
Thomas flew into Daytona Beach on July 4 with the firearms checked in his baggage. Thomas wrote on Instagram that he was going to "cause hell" at the Daytona Beach Police Department, according to a charging affidavit.
The charging affidavit also states that Thomas was affiliated with the same militia to which Wallace once belonged. Wallace had left the militia by the time he was accused of shooting Raynor. Thomas was affiliated with the New Black Panther Party and the Not F****** Around Coalition, or NFAC, according to the charging affidavit.
A detective on surveillance spotted Thomas on July 5 walking in the parking lot of the Winghouse at 2721 W. International Speedway Blvd., according to the affidavit. The detective said he recognized the imprint of a gun protruding from Thomas' green shirt on the back right side of his waistband.
Police checked with Arizona officials and learned that Thomas' concealed weapons carry license was suspended on Sept. 6, 2019.
On July 7, police saw an Instagram video of Thomas in which he said he had a video of a police car stalking his room, according to the affidavit. Thomas also said in a video that "if they ever decide to kick in my door, you all are in for some trouble," according to the affidavit.
Daytona Beach Police obtained an arrest warrant for Thomas and, along with Volusia County Sheriff's deputies, arrested him on July 8 as he walked in the parking lot of the BP gas station at 2980 W. International Speedway Blvd., according to a charging affidavit.
Thomas was carrying a concealed .45-caliber pistol in a holster on the front of his waistband, according to the affidavit.
Thomas also had some luggage, including a black rifle case. Inside the rifle case was an AR-15 pistol with three loaded magazines along with 100 rounds of .223-caliber ammunition and 34 rounds of .45-caliber ammunition, according to the affidavit.
One of Thomas’ defense attorneys, Channa Lloyd, said on Friday that he never received the document telling him his concealed carry permit was suspended.
Lloyd called Thomas’ wife to testify on Friday about Thomas’ character.
Markreach Muldrow, 31, said they had been together for 11 years and had three children, ages 8, 5 and 4.
“He is the man any woman would want,” Muldrow said. “A family man. He takes care of our kids.”
She said since his arrest, Thomas had missed his 8-year-old daughter’s first track meet, all three kids’ birthdays and Christmas. She said the children are sad and wonder when their father will be home again.
“He was always there from day one in the home there with our kids raising them right,” Muldrow said. “He’s the type of person that will wake up and be like ‘We are throwing a barbecue for the homeless today; get everything ready.’ He’s a people person. He helps. This is just crazy, this whole situation.”
'He travels with that'
During cross examination, Assistant State Attorney Interlicchio asked her about the homeless comment.
“Would you agree that there’s a huge difference between say helping out the homeless and helping out somebody who in cold blood murdered a police officer?” Interlicchio said.
“Yeah, there’s a huge difference,” she said.
He asked her about whether she and Thomas had discussed him coming to Daytona Beach. She said they had.
“And you thought it was a good idea,” Interlicchio said.
“What he was coming out here to do, yes,” she said.
“You think it’s a good idea to raise money for a cop killer?” Interlicchio said.
“Hmmm no,” Muldrow said. “I think it’s a good idea to raise money for someone to have a good lawyer to defend his case.”
“Somebody who murdered a cop,” Interlicchio said.
“Object, your honor,” Thomas’ other defense attorney, Mike Mann said. “Othal Wallace, he has not even been convicted.”
“Counsel rephrase,” Blackburn instructed Interlicchio.
“An alleged cop killer,” Interlicchio said. “You think that’s a good cause for him to take up?"
“I think it’s a good cause to raise money to get a good lawyer for somebody in court,” Muldrow said.
“Did you have any discussion why he needed body armor?” Interlicchio asked.
“No,” she said.
“So he took that on his own,” he said.
“Yes, he travels with that,” she said.
“An assault rifle?” Interlicchio said.
“He travels with that,” she said
“Hundreds of rounds of ammunition,” he asked.
“Shooting range,” she said.
“And another handgun?” he asked.
“Yeah, he travels with that,” she said.
Under questioning by Lloyd, Muldrow said that Thomas knew Wallace through social media and had only met him in person once or twice.
During her argument, Lloyd told the judge that prosecutors had twice offered Thomas plea deals. Once they offered him a year and a day in prison, which he declined. Then, in March, they offered him time served, which they withdrew before he could accept, Lloyd said.
Lloyd argued that Thomas had a right to travel and pass out flyers expressing why he thought it was important to raise money for good legal representation.
“In these times and this current day and age there are a number of protests that have happened and brought people from all kinds of locations,” Lloyd said. “This is not a unique or novel idea.”
Interlicchio argued that Thomas was trying to do suicide by cop or bait law enforcement into a confrontation in which police officers would have died because Thomas was well-armed.
“He says if they come through that door he’s going to get a few shots off,” Interlicchio said of Thomas’ social media posts.
Lloyd said Thomas did not do anything to bait police.
"He never tried to provoke law enforcement," she said.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Arizona man who traveled to Daytona Beach with guns gets prison
