Herman Thomas had an enviable political record as an African-American Democrat elected and re-elected in a county overwhelmingly white and increasingly Republican.
The respected circuit judge once was the Democratic Party's choice to be the first African-American federal judge in south Alabama.
Then his career collapsed under allegations that he brought inmates to his office and spanked them with a paddle. (Sounds a little weird...right?)
Weird Judge Continued on Page ?
Later, an indictment accused him of sexually abusing male inmates in exchange for leniency.
The trial on charges of sodomy, kidnapping, sex abuse, extortion, assault and ethics violations is underway.
Thomas stepped down from the bench in 2007 after the allegations of paddling surfaced and just ahead of a judicial ethics trial that could have forced him out of office.
If convicted of the most serious charges - sodomy and kidnapping - he faces from 20 years to life in prison.
The first public claim against Thomas surfaced in lawsuits filed by an inmate in 2001in Mobile circuit court and in federal court that claimed the judge offered to help him with his case in return for sex.
Other cases that Thomas had taken over from other judges without their approval soon surfaced, she said.
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.
He has said he was trying to mentor the inmates. Ha! Right. Now pull down your pants and bend over so I can "mentor" you!
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