Bob Grip interviews Herman Thomas

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Fox10 News Anchor Bob Grip interviewed former Circuit Court Judge Herman Thomas Monday morning. During the interview, Thomas says he never paddled any inmate or prisoner and he swore to it on the Bible.

Thomas was arrested and indicted of kidnapping, sodomy, sex abuse, extortion and ethics violations in March of 2009. He was tried on a total of 21 counts.

In October, a jury found Thomas not guilty on seven counts, but it could not reach a verdict on the other 14.  Judge Claud Neilson acquitted Thomas on the remaining charges.

Since then Thomas has kept a pretty low profile, that is until last week, when he announced he was running for the District 33 Senate seat.

When asked if he was running for the Senate seat now held by Vivian Davis Figures as an act of revenge, Thomas said he "wasn't running against her."  He said he had some things he wanted to accomplish and he thought the best way was in office.

Senator Figures testified at Thomas' trial. She said she had a conversation with Thomas about disciplining her son.  She said she gave Thomas permission to discipline him.  In Monday's interview, Thomas denied that conversation ever happened.

We asked Senator Figures for an interview, but she declined saying she wanted to "stay focused on the current legislative session."

You can watch the interview with Herman Thomas in its entirety by clicking on play in the video window to your upper left. 

The interview lasts 24  minutes.