Sounds as if he really had a hands on approach to these young men.

Some of the people that allowed this to go on so long should have to pay a price as well!

It is sounding kind of like the guy that becomes a priest, or a boy scout leader for all the wrong reasons.  And, people with that problem don’t just wake-up one morning and decide to start doing such things.

Hard to argue with love letters and DNA in his private room.  I do hope they were handwritten.

Also interesting is that apparently the accusers have seen the inside of his private chambers and other places that no judge I’ve ever encountered would ever take a prisoner.  The saddest part is that he was being patted on the back for his “hands on” approach to mentoring young men, but it seems that all the while, he was abusing them. 

It is astounding how long this may have gone on.  Some of the earliest accusations happened about a decade ago, but no one took them seriously. Even after he left the bench when the story heated up, he was allowed to work with “at risk” teens (right up until he was actually arrested), and as far as I can tell, no one involved seemed concerned.  Amazing. 

I’ve never heard any reports of anything untoward happening with the students, but why on earth would the school system think this was a good idea?  After hearing about all the accusations of abuse, Harold Dodge (former superintendent) says he went and checked it out and everything “looked ok,” so Thomas was allowed to continue his mentoring.  He even dropped by these boys’ houses at night to “check up on them.” 

It’s almost like he was just daring somebody to stop him.

This is the first I have heard of these “love” letters going back and forth between Thomas and the inmates.  Add those to a little DNA plus the statements of the accusers and this case starts looking stronger all the time.

“Prosecutors painted a picture of ex-Circuit Court Judge Herman Thomas as a veritable Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”

Interesting….. very interesting….

Ewwwwwwwwww

******************

“Among details Patterson said jurors would hear, are that Thomas wrote letter to men he had sent to jail, telling them, “I love you. You’re the only person I could ever trust.” Patterson said a box of very personal letters from prisoners was also found after Thomas resigned office.”

“The predominately African-American jury was also told by Patterson how Thomas had always tried to surround himself with young, African-American men, acting as a mentor to them in order to draw them into what she described as a web of deceit.”

Hmmmmmmm….... why couldn’t there be a more even split?

Get me up to date on what happened on Friday.  I read that one of the judges was the first to take the stand, so I guess that means the judge ruled on that motion.  What did the judge have to say?  Generalities, or specifics about Thomas?

Only thing i’ve heard is that they have seated a jury and are ready.

Anyone on twitter getting any trial updates?  I can’t connect to twitter from my present location.

Since Jah Jah Jah Jay Taloney is AWOL today, we are not getting much courtroom drama.  :(

Guilty or not, I’ll bet he is found innocent.  Too much politics involved.  I certainly am glad that I am not on that jury.  We should pray for all of them.