Judge Accused Of Paddling Inmates

Investigation Herman Thomas Judge Herman Thomas accused of removing inmates from the Mobile County Metro Jail and paddling them in a storage closet near his office.

by Jessica Taloney

Published: Wed, September 05, 2007 - 6:19 am CST Last Updated: Wed, September 05, 2007 - 7:26 pm CST

A Mobile County judge suspended earlier this year on ethics violations could also face criminal charges. According to a Press-Register report published Wednesday, the District Attorney's office is investigating allegations that Judge Herman Thomas removed inmates from the Mobile County Metro Jail and paddled them in a storage closet near his office.

The DA's office would not confirm any details of the allegations. They would only say there is an investigation.

"There is an ongoing criminal investigation by the DA's office and others into allegations about the behavior of Judge Thomas when he was on the bench," said Chief Assistant District Attorney Nikki Patterson.

Within hours of the allegations being leaked, NAACP President Jimmie Gardner called a press conference attacking District Attorney John Tyson, saying Tyson and his staff coerced inmates into making the accusations.

"There is a conspiracy between the District Attorney, even the other judges," said Gardner. "District Attorney John Tyson Junior has been criminal in his actions by means of criminal coercion and extortion while violating the civil rights of a person," he said.

Gardner gave News Five a copy of a letter he says supports his claims. The letter, which Gardner says was written by Maurice Robinson, who's being held in Metro jail on a drug charge, says Tyson told him if he didn't cooperate he'd be behind bars for twenty years.

"They thought I would be scared and then go ahead and tell on Judge Thomas," said Robinson in the letter.

Tyson was unavailable to comment Wednesday because he was in California, but Patterson says it is not uncommon for the DA's office to question inmates during the course of an investigation.

"We deal in facts in an investigation," said Patterson. "We proceed where the facts lead us."

Thomas is preparing for an October 29th judicial ethics trial in Montgomery on allegations that he manipulated a jail sentence for his cousin, former Mobile County School Board Commissioner David Thomas, Jr.

We attempted to contact Thomas Wednesday but could not reach him.

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Del Says:

Thu, Sep 13, 2007 at 7:14 am

You people voted for this Judge. The NAACP will not win this, there is no discrimination here at all. He disobeyed the law and he and his cousin Dave Thomas Jr. should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. They are both losers.

ProfessorVP Says:

Fri, Sep 07, 2007 at 1:02 pm

Adrian, you are quite sheltered. Spanking grown men is a sex fetish. It has absolutely nothing to do with punishing children.

Adrian Vance Says:

Fri, Sep 07, 2007 at 10:34 am

Maybe this isn’t such a bad idea after all. It sure worked in my Junior High School. Four or five swats from our Principal was enough to cure any miscreant. Fines don’t mean much to many. Jails are like motels with bad food, but some don’t seem to mind. If contemplating a crime brought with a memory of the last time you were told to “bend over” and could feel it for four days just might cause you to change your behavior.

ProfessorVP Says:

Fri, Sep 07, 2007 at 10:09 am

It makes sense in the context of the adult male spanking fetish that, believe it or not, is not exactly a rarity. It is one of many brands of kinky sex that usually is harmless fun, but certainly doesn’t belong in our judicial system.

finance01 Says:

Fri, Sep 07, 2007 at 7:50 am

gulfy: It is true that Nancy is no longer working for him but judicial assistant “secretary” is what she was for years even when he was a district court judge. Now it doesn’t matter if Debbie’s brother is the President which that has been proven, that has no merit. What is important is that he is a member of the NAACP and this organization is stepping to the plate to make sure that this Judge is treated fairly. Now as far as dropping their drawers I have to wait on the truth to come out on this because that doesn’t make sense.

ProfessorVP Says:

Thu, Sep 06, 2007 at 7:28 pm

I don’t give a crap who’s black or white. Having grown men drop their drawers for a spanking is kinky, for the pleasure of the judge, and an embarrassment to everyone else, including those who wind up reading about it.

gulfy Says:

Thu, Sep 06, 2007 at 6:37 pm

Judge Thomas employs an African-American lady named Debbie Gardner, who has worked for him for years and has been a friend of his since childhood. She is his Court Attendant (secretary) and she is the BROTHER of NAACP president Jimmie Gardner. The white secretary you refer to is “Nancy” who has not worked in his office in almost a year and was not his secretary but his Judicial Assistant.

finance01 Says:

Thu, Sep 06, 2007 at 4:31 pm

Judge Herman Y. Thomas - I’m impressed with the NAACP coming to your side, it may not be the popular decision but it is the right one. Who’s ever said the right thing is always the popular thing anyway. Most people that comment on the Judge, do your really know him? Probably not. Maybe it’s not that his secretary’s brother is the president because his secretary is white, but maybe it’s his long standing relationship with the NAACP. As for Mr. Tyson and his good work, there are some true criminals out there…...... let’s go get them.

gulfy Says:

Wed, Sep 05, 2007 at 4:00 pm

I am sure that it is just a coincidence that NAACP president Jimmie Gardner’s sister is Herman Thomas’ secretary. Maybe he has a family motive in defending the judge.

P.A. Says:

Wed, Sep 05, 2007 at 3:58 pm

Jimmie Gardner is an embarassment to the City of Prichard. Just when Mayor Davis and Chief Baptiste have begun to make a difference in this city, here comes the town idiot. I also believe its a conflict of interest for him to serve as the Assistant Police Chief of Prichard and also the President of the NAACP. Oh and Jimmie, don’t use words you cannot pronounce.