Week Ends With No Verdict In Herman Thomas Sex Trial

Alabama Mobile Jurors left at 5:00 p.m. without reaching a verdict. They will resume deliberations Monday at 9:00 a.m.

by WKRG Staff/The Associated Press

Published: Fri, October 23, 2009 - 8:28 am CST Last Updated: Fri, October 23, 2009 - 5:34 pm CST

MOBILE, Alabama - 5:30 p.m.
Jurors left at 5:00 p.m. without reaching a verdict. They will resume deliberations Monday at 9:00 a.m.

3:30 p.m.
If jurors don't reach a verdict today, the judge may allow them to return tomorrow. But the judge would not be in court, so the verdict would be sealed until Monday.

2:35 p.m.
(AP) - The jury asked Circuit Judge Claud Neilson a question Friday afternoon about the attempted sodomy charge against Thomas. The judge read the charge outlined in the indictment.

12:30 p.m.
Jurors take a lunch break. Deliberation resume at 1:30

11:10 a.m.
Just after 9 a.m. jurors sent Judge Claud Neilson a note saying they had a question about the jury instructions. Judge Neilson sent a note in response asking jurors if they had a specific question or if they needed to hear all of the instructions again. Jurors responded requesting all of the instructions.

Jurors filed back into the courtroom, and Neilson again instructed them on the legal definitions of sex abuse, assault, sodomy and attempted sodomy. Around 9:45 a.m. jurors began deliberating again.

10:42 a.m.
(AP) - The jury Circuit Judge Claud Neilson to repeat his instructions.

Prosecutor Nicki Patterson said the charges against Thomas are
complicated and the request to repeat the instructions indicated
jurors are trying to get it right.

9:28 a.m.
(AP) - A jury has begun a second day of
deliberations in the trial of former Mobile County Circuit Judge
Herman Thomas, who is accused of paddling and touching the bare
bottoms of male inmates.

The jury of seven women and five men got the case late Thursday
afternoon and deliberated about two hours before recessing. The
jury returned to work Friday morning.

Thomas is charged with assault, sex abuse, sodomy and attempted
sodomy of young men who appeared before him in court.

In closing arguments, prosecutors portrayed him as a "Dr.
Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" who led a dual life as a community leader and
sexual predator.

Defense attorneys said he's the victim of lying inmates
manipulating the court system.

News 5's Jessica Taloney is at Government Plaza. You can follow what's going on inside the courtroom by following her on Twitter. As soon as there is a verdict, we'll bring it to you.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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PAPABONEHEAD Says:

Mon, Oct 26, 2009 at 8:33 am

If he is not found guilty, this will be a travicy to Mobile and to the State of Alabama. Another OJ, and a mockery of the judicial system.

annborden Says:

Fri, Oct 23, 2009 at 3:48 pm

He very will may get away with this. It will be a shame if he does!!! If he does get away with it, I wonder if he can continue working in Mobile??

cmb1 Says:

Fri, Oct 23, 2009 at 2:36 pm

Could he become a judge in another state? Poor daughters and wife..

Lou Sid Palaver Says:

Fri, Oct 23, 2009 at 1:51 pm

He has twin daughters in college, I believe.

I don’t see any hard time coming from any of this. The best we can hope for is that he is never allowed to be a judge again.

cmb1 Says:

Fri, Oct 23, 2009 at 1:46 pm

Does anyone know if judge Thomas has kids?

Razorsharp Says:

Fri, Oct 23, 2009 at 12:26 pm

I have a feeling that he is going to get away with nothing more than a slap on the wrist. Even if they find him guilty, he has been a judge for a long time and knows the right people. Probation, jail-time, commuted sentence, fines etc… it really will not matter.

cmb1 Says:

Fri, Oct 23, 2009 at 12:22 pm

It sure is taking a long time. Hung jury?

abigail Says:

Fri, Oct 23, 2009 at 11:03 am

Very good, Lou!!

annborden Says:

Fri, Oct 23, 2009 at 10:37 am

After listening to to all the testimony in the Thomas trial, how could anyone think he is not guilty??? There is so much evidence against him and after hearing it all, what are we suppose to think?? There is no reason for semen to be on his office carpet. His or anyone else’s!! There is no excuse for any of this of this!!!!

Lou Sid Palaver Says:

Fri, Oct 23, 2009 at 9:39 am

The Cinderella defense would have been enough for me to find the guy guilty. That has to be one of the all time worst analogies ever used in a closing argument. ALL these sexual deviates lead multiple lives. John Wayne Gacy dressed up like a clown for children’s birthday parties. Then in his spare time he tortured, raped and murdered 33 men. He definitely turned into a pumpkin at midnight!

Thomas should get a refund for that display of stupidity.