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Former Inmate Says Ex-Ala. Judge Sexually Abused Him

Mobile, AL – A Mobile man with a lengthy criminal record has testified that when he was an 18-year-old inmate, former Mobile County Circuit Judge Herman Thomas spanked him with a belt on his bare bottom and had sexual contact with him.

The testimony Tuesday came in the trial of Thomas on charges accusing him of coercing Mobile jail inmates into having sex with him in return for leniency.

The witness, now 26, said the judge arranged for him to plead guilty to burglary and credit card fraud charges and receive five years probation.

He said the judge spanked his bare bottom again while he was on probation, but there was no sexual contact that time.

The Associated Press generally does not identify victims in sexual assault cases.

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

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