Self-proclaimed anti-violence activist Dontie Mitchell was in court Thursday as a new indictment was unsealed.

The indictment revealed 20 new charges against Mitchell, all of them sex crimes.

Mitchell is facing 9 counts of rape, 10 counts of unlawful surveillance, and 1 count of predatory sex assault.

Mitchell’s lawyer Rebekah Sokol is an assistant public defender for Albany County and said today’s indictment took her by surprise.

“It’s a shock to everybody, really. I mean, we did not see this coming,” Sokol said.

Sokol said her and her team are beginning to investigate the charges.

“The next step is trying to figure out what this actually covers, right? So, I have a bunch of allegations. I don’t know the names of the individuals that are claimed to be involved. I have no details. This is a superseding indictment,” said Sokol.

In the courtroom Thursday there were tense moments between Judge Roger McDonough and Dontie Mitchell. Mitchell wants to represent himself in the case, however the judge reminded Dontie in the court room that the judge makes that final decision.

“I haven’t determined that you’re capable of representing yourself yet in this new indictment,” Judge McDonough at Thursday’s proceedings.

Dontie Mitchell’s lawyer Rebekah Sokol said that she has faith in Dontie’s abilities.