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Post by Cambist on Oct 9, 2009 11:48:39 GMT -5
Ex-judge Herman Thomas testified he never took paddle to courthouse; former colleague says that's not true by Gary McElroy, Staff Reporter Tuesday April 28, 2009, 10:07 AM MOBILE, Ala. -- A Circuit Court judge is questioning the testimony of his former colleague Herman Thomas that he never had or displayed a fraternity paddle at the Mobile County courthouse. Herman Thomas, charged with extortion, kidnapping, sodomy and sex abuseThomas' denials came during an unsuccessful attempt to get his law license reinstated after the Alabama State Bar stripped him of it in the wake of a series of criminal charges. Besides Circuit Judge Joseph "Rusty" Johnston, other judges and several lawyers queried since the April 9 Montgomery hearing said they often saw a paddle on exhibition in Thomas' chambers behind his courtroom bench. Only Johnston was willing to be quoted on the record for this story. The existence of any paddles may play a key role in the planned prosecution of Thomas by the Mobile County District Attorney's Office. A grand jury last month issued a 57-count indictment against the former judge, charging him with extortion, kidnapping, sodomy and sex abuse. Among the allegations, Thomas is accused of spanking young criminal defendants. Johnston described the paddle as having been near Thomas' desk, along with a framed photo of a group shot of a fraternity to which Thomas belongs, Kappa Alpha Psi. "I've seen the paddle," Johnston said. "I saw it in his office. It was sort of on display." Thomas' attorney, Robert Clark, said last week that his client stands by his statements, made under oath to the State Bar. "Judge Rusty Johnston is out to crucify and hang Judge Thomas, and he ain't stopped. And he ain't going to stop," Clark said. Earlier this year, Johnston banned Thomas, who stepped down in October 2007, from arguing cases as a lawyer in his courtroom, citing what he said were ethical lapses on Thomas' part. During the Montgomery hearing, Thomas acknowledged being a member of Kappa Alpha Psi and said he owned 3 fraternity paddles. "I have a small paddle that I received when I was first initiated in 1990 that's at my home," Thomas told the State Bar. "And I have two paddles that was given to me as gifts that are also on display in my home." Thomas was questioned at one point by the State Bar's general counsel, Tony McLain. "Have you ever taken any of those paddles in the courthouse?" McLain asked. "No, sir," Thomas responded. "Never?" "No, sir."
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Post by Robelite on Oct 9, 2009 11:51:37 GMT -5
One of the first things I asked when this story broke initially was why he would have a paddle in his office AT WORK! Home office...fine. At work....er.....uh....not a good move.  |
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Post by Oldskool on Oct 9, 2009 20:15:28 GMT -5
Some people just have the need to show off their trophies. In this case...backfire...ouch!! 
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Post by T-Rex91 on Oct 9, 2009 20:27:57 GMT -5
OK, I hope the paddle had nothing to do with the sodomy charge. Ugh......
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Post by Coldfront06 on Oct 10, 2009 10:05:32 GMT -5
The paddle is the least of his concerns...lol. I heard that this dude was being accused of giving favorable treatment in exchange for sexual favors.
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Post by Oldskool on Oct 12, 2009 21:40:59 GMT -5
Nupey go get you' boy.
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Post by Troopa1911 on Oct 13, 2009 12:15:04 GMT -5
One of my Alpha friends has his paddle and brick on display in his office (Gov't office) and he is in his 50's
I don't see what wrong with it unless he beating some a$$ at work....with the paddle that is. lol
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Post by Robelite on Oct 13, 2009 14:40:29 GMT -5
Troop,
I wouldn't advise ANYONE (Alpha, Kappa, Omega, Sigma, Iota) to have a paddle in their office at work. I've seen a few bricks in the work offices of Greeks. Let me put it this way....I would not have a paddle at work. Just the presence of it alone sends the wrong signals.
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Post by T-Rex91 on Oct 13, 2009 14:45:18 GMT -5
Hey Rob! Long time no see!
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Post by ReignMan19 on Oct 13, 2009 14:49:58 GMT -5
Am I alone with thinking that the paddle situation is such a moot point compared to the actual charges  let's try to justify these sodomy charges... |
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Post by T-Rex91 on Oct 13, 2009 14:57:03 GMT -5
Am I alone with thinking that the paddle situation is such a moot point compared to the actual charges let's try to justify these sodomy charges... Is actually not trying to think of the sodomy charges at all....unless (gasp!) the paddle played a role |
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Post by ReignMan19 on Oct 13, 2009 15:27:59 GMT -5
Am I alone with thinking that the paddle situation is such a moot point compared to the actual charges let's try to justify these sodomy charges... Is actually not trying to think of the sodomy charges at all....unless (gasp!) the paddle played a role <------ is hoping and praying that it is physically impossible for it to have played a role... wait.. sodomy... is that the no up the butt law??  Sweet QueDawg Baby Jesus in camouflage pants and shiny gold boots please tell me these aint lil boys... |
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Post by BKupInHere on Oct 13, 2009 16:23:40 GMT -5
Sodomy also refers to oral sex.
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Post by ReignMan19 on Oct 13, 2009 16:53:43 GMT -5
That's what I thought... Thank you Baby Jesus
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Post by T-Rex91 on Oct 13, 2009 16:59:54 GMT -5
Sodomy also refers to oral sex. Learned something new today. |
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Post by ReignMan19 on Oct 13, 2009 17:32:22 GMT -5
Yeah I get all my criminal jargon from Law and order SVU
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Post by **Dea** on Oct 13, 2009 19:33:35 GMT -5
this negro said "Sweet QueDawg Baby Jesus in camouflage pants and shiny gold boots.."
hehehehehehe!!!!
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Post by butterfly1 on Oct 14, 2009 13:58:35 GMT -5
Ooh, he just has no ethics at all, huh?
This is ridiculous. Forget the paddle, he's facing serious criminal charges. They had to come from somewhere.
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Post by LejaOMG on Oct 14, 2009 14:02:49 GMT -5
While I see it as MAD extra, I can imagine someone using a greek paddle to decorate their office. Even if it's true that he had the paddle, it's not dispositive evidence by any means, IMO
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Post by Kyng of JDs on Oct 14, 2009 17:14:54 GMT -5
My ex-coworkers in WGLOs had paddles. Granted, they had so much crap on them, there was no way that tey could be used.
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Post by Bunny Hop on Oct 15, 2009 7:20:41 GMT -5
There is so much stuff that can go in an office...why a paddle?
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Post by Robelite on Oct 15, 2009 9:32:44 GMT -5
Hey Rob! Long time no see! Hey there Miss DST! How you doin', darlin'?  Am I alone with thinking that the paddle situation is such a moot point compared to the actual charges let's try to justify these sodomy charges... -- ReignMan Now that ^^^ is indeed the HEART of the problem Mr. Reign. However, look at it --- a paddle, sodomy....don't you see a little S & M goin' on in this instance? That's why you leave your "wood" at the crib. Just my assessment.  |
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Post by LogAKAlly <3'n Keef on Oct 15, 2009 10:06:59 GMT -5
Naughty lil Kappa...
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Post by ReignMan19 on Oct 20, 2009 15:45:47 GMT -5
*UPDATE* this is on CNN.com today... I dont know A former Alabama judge is standing trial on charges he checked male inmates out of jail and forced them to engage in sexual activity such as paddling in exchange for leniency. Former Mobile County Circuit Judge Herman Thomas denies all the charges, his attorney says. Former Mobile County Circuit Judge Herman Thomas at one point faced more than 100 criminal counts in the case, including kidnapping, sexual abuse, extortion and sodomy. Prosecutors filed cases relating to 15 alleged victims, with multiple counts in each case. But four of those cases have been dismissed -- some thrown out by a judge because the statute of limitations expired and others because prosecutors decided not to present evidence relating to them -- leaving 11 alleged victims and 51 counts, according to defense attorney Robert Clark and CNN affiliate WKRG-TV. Retired Marengo County Judge Claud Neilson dismissed jurors Tuesday while attorneys argued whether the jury should be allowed to consider kidnapping, extortion or assault charges, WKRG reported. Neilson already has ruled there is enough evidence for jurors to consider the sex abuse charges. Thomas, 48, has pleaded not guilty and has denied any wrongdoing. Clark told CNN on Tuesday that Thomas was trying to mentor the inmates and did not assault them. "The whole thing is, he tried to help people in this community," Clark said. "He helped thousands to grow up and be productive citizens." The judge does not deny bringing the inmates into his office, Clark said. "He was mentoring them. He was trying to get them to do right, to be productive citizens." Jury selection begins in paddling judge case One of the alleged victims testified Monday that he doesn't know why his semen was found on the carpet of a small room used as an office by Thomas, according to The Mobile Press-Register newspaper. But he did say Thomas spanked him with a belt on several occasions, the newspaper reported, and that the paddlings took place inside a jury room, in the small office and at a Mobile fraternity house. Another man testified that after he was charged with kidnapping and robbery in 2002, Thomas visited him in jail and urged the man to let Thomas decide the case instead of a jury, according to the Press-Register. Thomas convicted him of lesser charges, he testified, and sentenced him to a 90-day boot camp. He said Thomas also beat him with a belt on his bare buttocks about a dozen times at the courthouse, the newspaper reported. Neither man was identified. "All of them [the alleged victims] were given preferential treatment at some point," Nicki Patterson, chief assistant district attorney for Mobile County, told CNN earlier this month. "And ultimately, when some of them refused to continue participating [in the activities], they were given what I would view as excessive sentences. But certainly while the inmates were involved with the activities we allege, the state would say, it was extremely lenient sentences." However, "two of the individuals said he [Thomas] did nothing bad to them," Clark said Tuesday. "That he didn't paddle them. That he only helped them. ... I mean, the last guy that testified was a murderer. And he's complaining he got assaulted. 'I got assaulted,' -- yeah, right." Asked whether Thomas admits paddling the men, Clark said, "I didn't say either way. ... I'm saying there ain't no sexual innuendoes." Neilson has heard arguments on whether an expert should be allowed to testify about sexual fetishes for the prosecution. Clark said the expert has not interviewed any of the alleged victims and that he fails to see how the testimony fits into the case. Neilson was brought in to hear the case after all the Mobile County Circuit judges recused themselves -- standard procedure in a case involving another judge. Thomas resigned from the bench in October 2007 before he was scheduled to stand trial before the Alabama Court of the Judiciary on multiple ethics violations charges. The complaint, dismissed after the resignation, accused him of "extrajudiciary personal contact" with some defendants but does not refer to any sexual contact. In April, Thomas told WKRG the allegations against him are false, but the most important thing for him was making sure his wife and two daughters were taken care of. "I'm not guilty, and I look forward to being a part of the community that's supported me and I've supported my entire life," he said. The Alabama State Bar suspended Thomas' law license in January after a grand jury handed up the first of two indictments against him. In April, the bar's disciplinary commission upheld the suspension, WKRG reported, despite the fact that Thomas under oath denied all the allegations in the first indictment. The second indictment was returned in August. |
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Post by T-Rex91 on Oct 26, 2009 19:56:53 GMT -5
ACQUITTED!!!! I don't know how paddling men's bare buttocks is OK but homeboy was found not guilty.Alabama judge not guilty of sexual abuse of inmates (CNN) -- A former Alabama judge accused of checking male inmates out of jail and forcing them to engage in sexual activity was found not guilty Monday on charges of sexual abuse, attempted sodomy and assault, his lawyer said. Attorney Robert Clark said former Judge Herman Thomas was found not guilty on several charges and the judge in the case granted a directed verdict of acquittal on all the other counts. The Mobile County district attorney did not immediately return CNN calls for comment. Thomas, 48, denied wrongdoing. Clark said on October 20 that the judge was trying to mentor the inmates and did not assault them. The judge does not deny bringing the inmates into his office, Clark said last week. "He was mentoring them. He was trying to get them to do right, to be productive citizens." Thomas cried after the verdicts were read, Clark said Monday. "He hugged me and he hugged his wife. And he had a courtroom full of supporters. It all worked out in the end," the attorney said. One of the alleged victims testified October 19 that he doesn't know why his semen was found on the carpet of a small room used as an office by Thomas, according to The Mobile Press-Register newspaper. But he did say Thomas spanked him with a belt on several occasions, the newspaper reported, and that the paddlings took place inside a jury room, in the small office and at a Mobile, Alabama, fraternity house. Another man testified that after he was charged with kidnapping and robbery in 2002, Thomas visited him in jail and urged the man to let Thomas decide the case instead of a jury, according to the Press-Register. Thomas convicted him of lesser charges, he testified, and sentenced him to a 90-day boot camp. He said Thomas also beat him with a belt on his bare buttocks about a dozen times at the courthouse, the newspaper reported. Neither man was identified. "All of them [the alleged victims] were given preferential treatment at some point," Nicki Patterson, chief assistant district attorney for Mobile County, said earlier this month. "And ultimately, when some of them refused to continue participating [in the activities], they were given what I would view as excessive sentences. But certainly while the inmates were involved with the activities we allege, the state would say, it was extremely lenient sentences." Clark said his client's next hurdle is the Alabama State Bar. "They suspended him back in March because he got indicted. And we're fighting to give him his law license back," he said. CNN's Carolina Sanchez contributed to this report. Find this article at: www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/10/26/alabama.judge.inmate.sex/index.html
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Post by Oldskool on Oct 26, 2009 20:53:20 GMT -5
I am Done.
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let's try to justify these sodomy charges... 
