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Herman Thomas Not Guilty

Herman Thomas has been found not guilty on charges of sex abuse, sodomy and assault, reports the Mobioe Press Register. The former Alabama judge was accused of checking male inmates out of jail and forcing them to engage in sexual activity for reduced sentences. The jury returned not guilty on several charges and the judge dismissed the other counts.

Eleven alleged victims told of being spanked with belts, a fraternity paddle, told to masturbate or have oral sex with Thomas in return for lighter sentences. The semen of two alleged victims was also found in his office. The jury apparently was not swayed by the DNA evidence, visitor logs and testimony of several witnesses who said Thomas even asked permission to paddle their grown sons or nephews.

Jury Deliberates Case of Ex-Judge Accused of Paddling, Sex Abuse

The jury is now deliberating the case of former Alabama Circuit Court Judge Herman Thomas, who is accused of exchanging leniency for sexual acts such as paddling, masturbation and oral sex. The jury is considering more than 20 charges against the former Mobile County circuit judge, including sodomy, assault and sex abuse. 

Last week, 11 alleged victims told of being spanked with belts, a Kappa Alpha Psi paddle, and of being spanked by Thomas at a fraternity house. Prosecutors describe Thomas as a predator who had sex with inmates in return for leniency. Thomas denies being gay or bisexual as well as the accounts of numerous current and former inmates. The defense did not attempt to explain how the semen of two alleged victims were found in his office.

Thomas Trial: Inmates Testify Ex-Judge Spanked, Abused Them

The prosecution rests in the trial of former Alabama Circuit Court Judge Herman Thomas, who is accused of exchanging leniency for sexual acts such as paddling, masturbation and oral sex. The former Mobile County judge at one point faced more than 100 criminal counts, including kidnapping, sexual abuse, extortion and sodomy. Prosecutors dismissed some cases and others were thrown out by a judge because the statute of limitations expired.

There are now 11 alleged victims and 52 counts, WKRG-TV reports. In the past week, eight victims told of being spanked with belts, a Kappa Alpha Psi paddle, and of being spanked by Thomas at a fraternity house. One victim previously told Mobile police that Thomas forced him to masturbate but refused to say this on the witness stand, reports the Mobile Press-Register.

The man is one of two alleged victims whose semen was found by investigators in that office on the eighth floor, according to earlier testimony. Last week, the other alleged victim testified that Thomas asked him to masturbate inside the office. On Monday, Special Judge Claud Neilson sent the jury out of the courtroom after prosecutors tried to introduce into evidence a transcript of an FBI interview with the 26-year-old man earlier this year. The transcript stated that the man had previously told Mobile police that Thomas forced him to masturbate, prosecutors said. Neilson ruled that the transcript could not be heard or seen by the jury.

The man testified Monday that Thomas beat him on his bare buttocks inside a jury room, in the small office and at a fraternity house in Mobile after meeting the judge in 2000. During one of the beatings, the man said, he turned around and saw Thomas with an erection in his pants. "I don't like being here," the man said from the witness stand. "I'm just here to testify the truth."

The trial also revealed one of the alleged victims was the son of an influential black state senator, Vivian Davis Figures, who allegedly asked the judge to intervene in her son's drug case.

The defense began its case yesterday. One of the character witnesses admits she gave Thomas permission to paddle her nephew, who was in and out of jail on drug charges, WKRG reports. The mother of another witness says she gave Thomas permission to paddle her grown son, adds Black Independent, an Alabama-based blog following the case. Defense attorney Bob Clark said Wednesday morning he planned to rest their case this afternoon.

Herman Thomas was once the Democratic Party's choice to be the first black federal judge in south Alabama. The now-disgraced judge was considered "tough" on crime and is married with two teen-aged daughters. He denies being gay or bisexual.

Thanks LANCE and KAYMAN!

The Background:
Prosecutors Describe Former Judge as Sex Predator
Prosecutors Want Sexual Fetish Testimony in Trial 
Ex-Judge Accused of Trading Sex for Leniency

Prosecutors Describe Former Judge as Sex Predator and "Jekyll & Hyde"

After several days of jury selection, the Herman Thomas trial finally got underway Friday in Alabama. The former Mobile County Circuit judge is a "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" who had sex with jail inmates in return for leniency while claiming to "straighten" out their lives, said Chief Assistant District Attorney Nicki Patterson in opening arguments, reports the Mobile Press-Register.

"The defendant's perversions led him to abuse those very young men he was so publicly mentoring and helping," Patterson said. Thomas would pick men without fathers in their lives and who were in need of help, Patterson said, sometimes checking them out of jail. Using the judges' secure elevator, he brought the men to an eighth-floor office with a glass panel that had been covered with paper, she said.

Inside, she said, Thomas told the young men to strip down and be paddled, or be sent back to jail. During the spankings, some of the men turned around to see Thomas masturbating or having an "obvious erection in his pants," Patterson said. Patterson said Thomas also ordered men to masturbate or engage in oral sex with him. As Patterson detailed Thomas' alleged indiscretions, Thomas' wife looked on.

Once the Democratic Party's choice to be the first black federal judge in south Alabama, the now-disbarred Thomas is accused of sexually abusing or assaulting at least 14 current or former inmates while serving on the bench from 1999 to 2007. Thomas faces 70 charges of charges of kidnapping, sodomy, extortion and sex abuse. Thomas is also accused of having cases pulled from other judges' dockets and placed on his own.

Thomas had been indicted on 80+ charges in connection with 15 alleged victims. Two days ago, the state asked to dismiss one case. At the same time prosecutors announced they have at least two separate semen samples.

WKRG reports this about the mostly black jury: "The jury is made up of eight men and eight women. It is unusual because the panel includes four alternates. None of the jurors know who is an alternate."

JUMP to watch WKRG's report on the opening arguments.

Prosecutors Want Sexual Fetish Testimony in Trial of Ex-Judge

Jury selection begins this morning in the trial of former Alabama Circuit Court Judge Herman Thomas, who is accused of exchanging leniency for sexual acts. At least 15 current or former inmates are scheduled to testify against the former judge now facing 83 counts of kidnapping, sex abuse, sodomy and extortion. Prosecutors want to call a sexual fetish expert to testify, reports WKRG.

Defense attorneys opposed the testimony during a hearing Monday afternoon, saying Thomas is not accused of having a sexual fetish, but Chief Assistant District Attorney Nicki Patterson disagreed describing Thomas as a sexual predator who engaged in "unusual sexual acts." Dr. Catalina Arata, a retired professor from the University of South Alabama, is an expert in sexual abuse and the behavior of sexual abuse victims, according to Patterson, who plans to use the doctor as an expert witness. Fifteen alleged victims have accused the former judge of forcing them to drop their pants while he paddled them for sexual pleasure in a secret office near his chambers. The allegations appear to stem from incidents that allegedly happened from 1999 to 2005. At least three of the victims say they were also forced to perform other sexual acts in exchange for leniency in court or under the threat of being sent back to jail.

The ruling on the expert testimony is expected today. The jury is expected to be seated today and opening statements could begin as early as Thursday afternoon, adds Mobile's FOX 10.

Herman Thomas was once a rising star in the Alabama Democratic Party, a black Democrat repeatedly elected in Mobile County which is predominantly white and Republican. The now-disgraced judge was considered "tough" on crime and is married with two teen-aged daughters. He denies being gay or bisexual.

Herman Thomas Coverage on Rod 2.0:
Ex-Judge Accused of Trading Sex for Leniency

Trial Begins of Ex-Judge Accused of Trading Sex for Leniency

The trial begins of former Alabama Circuit Court Judge Herman Thomas, who is accused of exchanging leniency for sexual acts performed in his chambers and/or car. At least 15 current or former inmates are scheduled to testify against the disgraced former judge now facing 83 counts of kidnapping, sex abuse, sodomy and extortion.

The oldest incident in the charges dates to 1999, his first year as a circuit judge. Some inmates in those cases described being checked out of the jail for meetings with Thomas in his car or in his private office in the county courthouse. First, there were reports of inmates having to pull down their underwear for spankings with a wooden paddle. Then came allegations of oral and anal sex, according to court records.

Defense attorney Robert "Cowboy Bob" Clark calls the accusers "lying felons" who are trying to wreck the career of "a prestigious member of the Bar for over 20 years." The NAACP has defended Thomas and claims race is behind his prosecution. But [Chief Assistant District Attorney Nicki] Patterson disputes that, noting that each of the victims is black, and says that jail checkout records back up inmates' claims about trips to Thomas' private office, and other inmates spotted marks after paddlings. There also is other evidence, according to court records, including one inmate's seminal fluid on the office carpet. The inmates also were able to describe in detail Thomas' unmarked windowless office.

Special Judge Claud Neilson dismissed 20 counts of ethics violations against the disgraced former Mobile County judge and ruled the alleged violations exceeded the statute of limitations. The 83 criminal counts were left intact and jury selection begins Wednesday, reports the Birmingham News

Thomas was once a rising star in the Alabama Democratic Party, a black Democrat who was "repeatedly elected in an Alabama county that was predominantly white and Republican." Thomas, who was considered tough on crime and a "law and order" judge, is married with children.

Thomas gives new meaning to the old phrase "Here cums the judge." From the poster boy of black Alabama Democrats to the latest example of hypocrisy, repressed sexuality and the closet. Thomas may have a  flair for bow ties but his sordid actions—and the super-lame defense by the NAACP—is not a good look.