Herman Thomas' Accusers

There's no question the 15 men accusing a former judge of sexually abusing them have checkered pasts, but prosecutors say it doesn't mean what they're saying isn't true.

According to court records, all of the accusers have a criminal history, including drugs, assaults, robberies and even murder, but investigators, including one who testified when Thomas lost his law license in April, say it was the alleged victims' run-ins with the law that put them in Thomas' path.

Fourteen of the accusers appeared in Thomas' court, either while he was a district judge from 1990 to 1999 or while he was a circuit judge from 1999 to 2007.

"There are people who have made ridiculous statements about Judge Thomas, but they are total lies," said Thomas' attorney, Bob Clark, who has been outspoken in questioning the accusers' credibility since Thomas was first arrested in March. "These guys are murders, mother muggers, rapists and robbers," said Clark.

Thomas, who resigned from the bench in October 2007 amid rumors of the sexual misconduct, pleaded not guilty in March to 57 counts including sodomy, sexual abuse, kidnapping and extortion. His attorney says he will also plead not guilty to the 46 new charges filed Friday after he was indicted for the second time by a special Mobile County Grand Jury.

The indictments accuse the former judge of paddling the alleged victims, inappropriately touching them and in some cases engaging in oral and anal sex.

One case presented to the Grand Jury was no billed because jurors did not believe there was sufficient evidence to send the case to trial

District Attorney John Tyson declined to comment on anything not specifically written in the indictment.

Thomas is scheduled to go to trial on all 103 charges October 5.