Ex-judge Herman Thomas, accused of a barrage of kinky and sexually abusive acts, ’ suffered a blow Thursday when a witness testified that the former Mobile, Ala., County Circuit jurist paddled him for supposedly acting immature.

The witness, who said he was on probation at the time, said he submitted to the paddling because Thomas was a judge and because he feared Thomas would revoke the probation he received in 2000 for possession of cocaine, The Associated Press reports.

The man also testified that his mother told him not to get involved with the prosecution of the former judge because she thought there was a conspiracy against Thomas.

Thomas, who says he’s the victim of a racist witch hunt because he is the first African American elected to the Mobile County Circuit Court, is accused of a host of sex-related offenses, including spanking male inmates and forcing some to perform sexual acts in exchange for leniency.