Accused Paddling Judge Released On Bond

Alabama Mobile  A former judge arrested on charges of sexually abusing inmates is released on bond hours after his arrest.
by Jessica Taloney
Published: Fri, March 27, 2009 - 4:42 pm CST Last Updated: Fri, March 27, 2009 - 7:11 pm CST
Former Mobile County Circuit Court Judge Herman Thomas is out of jail just hours after he was arrested on 57 counts of kidnapping, sodomy, extortion and ethics violations.

A secret grand jury returned eight indictments Friday morning, accusing the former judge of sexually abusing inmates from Mobile Metro Jail. The indictments allege Thomas paddled the inmates' bare butts, and in at least one case, the grand jury alleges Thomas forced a young man to perform oral sex on him.

Thomas, who resigned from the bench in October 2007 when the allegations first surfaced, held a 2pm press conference in front of the jail. He referred all questions to his attorney, "Cowboy" Bob Clark, who accused the district attorney of racism.

"Like Clarence Thomas said it's a high tech lynching," shouted Clark during the press conference. "This is racism at its finest. We should be proud to be citizens of Mobile County and proud we elected these bastards."

The press conference was cut short when three officers arrested Thomas, escorting him inside the same jail housing inmates he's accused of assaulting.

Less than an hour later, Clark showed up at a press conference called by District Attorney John Tyson and was threatened with arrest when he refused to leave. Clark was allowed to return minutes later, and Tyson said the pair "resolved their differences."

Tyson called the charges against Thomas "very serious" and said the investigation is still not over.

"If you believe something like this has happened to you, the sheriff's office, the police department, the district attorneys office and certainly the FBI would be very interested in hearing from you," said Tyson during a public plea for more victims to come forward.

Thomas was released late Friday afternoon on a $250,000 bond, according to Clark. Tyson says there are three conditions on Thomas' release: (1) The former judge can have no contact with any males younger than 21. (2) Thomas can have no contact with any complaining witnesses or their families. (3) Thomas must surrender his passport.

Tony McLain of the Alabama Bar Association confirmed to News Five that the organization has spoken with Thomas and his attorney, but they have not made a decision about any disciplinary action.

McLain says the bar association can either file a motion to immediately suspend Thomas' law license or wait to see if there is a conviction, which would result in a mandatory suspension or disbarment.



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Not sure if it’s true or not but I heard they found Judge Thomas’ DNA in his secret room where all the abuse was taking place.

The deal with his cousin was enough to get him kicked off the bench, imo.  The rest of this will come to light in the trial and we will see just who is lying about whom.

I know Herman Thomas personally. He has always represented himself in the upmost professional manner.  Whether it was at a banquet before Cubscouts, An Eagle scout himself. A Christmas parade always one to volunteer his time.  Or in front of me in court with my son in shackles due to violence of drugs and the streets.  He even sent my son to prison.  My views of Herman Thomas
still has not changed.  I spoke with my son when all of these rumours came to surface, and my son looked at me and said.  Mom conficted men will say anything for anyone to get a free pass or a get out of jail early hearing.  Do not believe it.

He made me second guess what I did not believe in the first place.  Shame on me.  Shame on you if you don’t let this man who took an oath to protect and serve continue to do so.

God Bless You Herman, your daughters and your wife.

Good example of “you reap what you sow”

“Innocent until proven guilty” is a technical term for the courtroom and Thomas will have his day in court.

I think that had overwhelming evidence to force the guy off the bench.  Judges and lawyers don’t turn on each other easily.  In fact, they let each other get away with far too much as it is.  This guy pushed it to the limit and he will have to pay the price.

The way I have always been taught was that “You are innocent until proven quilty”, Although if have been falsly accused of something, knowning that it is not true, then it makes it hard to believe what you read. There are many people in this world that have never lied, cheated, stolen etc…, so I guess it would be easy to believe what you read. You have to remember the old addage “believe nothing you read, and half of what you see”.

There are some attorneys that work just like Hermon Thomas does. Not on the up and up. So having an attorney does not gaurantee you a fair ride. He sent my child back into a physically violent situation without evening hearing the facts becuase he was in with one of those kind of attorneys. He didn’t care if we lived or died so please don’t act like you think he cares about some kid in jail.  And when another judge heard the case, he immediately removed my son from the situation and he has not had to go back since. I told them what Herman Thomas did and everyone in that courtroom did not act shocked. So this did not just start.

To Jlynnsmon statement: Yes, I’am sure people have lied, if all these victims had allegedly been abused by the legal system then the quilty party should pay. How many of the victims were represented by an a Attorney? The Attorney of the said victims should have reported any wrong doing, as Attorney’s are also officers of the Court. Justice will prevail in given due time when all is said and done I will be courious to see how many of the Counts will get dropped.

check out this comment
:*** Says:
Fri, Mar 27, 2009 at 11:00 pm
“I’am really proud and have great faith in our legal system, that they would take the word of a felon or a convicted felon. Kinda makes me wonder what kind of a deal the felon?”***
  First:The Obvious: K, if they didn’t play Hermans game,then yeah, they were found guilty and sentenced-some as a felon-obviously if they didn’t play, then they will tell what he tried to do to them and wouldn’t be surprised if some of these convictions are overturned. So you never lied in your life? Does that mean you always lie? Right…People make mistakes but to be treated this way by an officer of the courts whom should be trusted utmost is despicable and hope he gets 3 life sentences when found guilty. So to all who proclaim his innocence obviously none of your family members were forced to commit homosexual sex acts to get out of jail-it is a scarey place.Sad thing is some of these got out that should be in. Good riddance of vermin.

Its amazing how some idiots on here will comment regarding innocence when they know nothing of the circumstances.  Probably clients of Bob Clarks no doubt.  Whatever moron said Herman Thomas is a positive role model for kids is…wow…mentally unstable to say the least. He was a predator that took advantage of scared kids in trouble.How is that a role model?  Hey, he is the one that asked for the investigation when he tried to get his piece of dirt cousin, David Thomas out of Metro Jail when he was drunk, ran over a child and injured it, then left the scene…which is a felony and he took over the case…like no one knew they were related-right??? K, then he sent David to Prichard jail, which only holds misdameanants/not felons against the sentencing judges orders? Guess thats why the murder rate is so high in Mobile with idiots like the earlier commenter proclaiming Herman is such a great role model for kids…Wake up dude.When a defense atty screams race so soon,he has no defense.

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