Week Ends With No Verdict In Herman Thomas Sex Trial

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.)