More Child Sex Charges Against Evangelist
Tony Alamo, 74, Sect Leader, Polygamist And Tax Cheat Is Accused Of Molesting Children
-
-
A gate blocks a driveway of the property of Tony Alamo, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008 in Fouke, Ark., after FBI agents and state police raided the evangelist's headquarters. (AP Photo/Mike Wintroath)
-
This Sept. 25, 2008 file booking photo released by the Coconino County Sheriff's Office, in Flagstaff, Ariz., shows Tony Alamo, evangelist and convicted tax evader. (AP Photo, File)
-
The outside of Tony Alamo Christian Church is seen Sept. 20, 2008 in Fouke, Ark., after FBI agents and state police raided the evangelist's headquarters as part of a child pornography investigation. (AP Photo/Mike Wintroath)
-
This undated photo made available by Tony Alamo Christian Ministries shows Tony Alamo and his wife Susan. (AP/Tony Alamo Christian Ministries)
-
This undated photograph shows evangelist Tony Alamo, head of the Tony Alamo Christian Ministries in Arkansas. (CBS/KTHV)
-
-
Interactive Children In Danger Warning signs, state-by-state child services information and a history of child welfare reforms.
-
Interactive Eye on Religion Find out more about the beliefs, practices and history of some of the world's major religions.
John Wesley Hall Jr. told The Associated Press that the charges are similar to those already facing Alamo, 74. Hall declined to specifically name the charges.
It's "the same kind of stuff, just more of it," Hall said.
Prosecutors filed the sealed indictment against Alamo as he testified Monday in a child custody case involving girls seized from the Fouke compound of the Tony Alamo Christian Ministries. In a court filing, Alamo pleaded not guilty and waived an arraignment hearing the same day, a postscript near his signature noting his "handwriting looks bad because he was handcuffed."
Typically, sealed indictments are made public after an initial hearing. A detention hearing is set for 10 a.m. Dec. 10 in Texarkana.
Debbie Groom, a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's office for the Western District of Arkansas, declined to comment Tuesday morning on the indictment.
FBI agents arrested Alamo in September, five days after his Fouke compound was searched by federal agents and state police. Alamo has pleaded not guilty to the charges and has repeatedly said he is innocent, placing blame on a federal push to legalize same-sex marriage while outlawing polygamy.
The evangelist, previously convicted of tax evasion, has said "consent is puberty" when it comes to sex with young girls.
Alamo remains in federal custody on the charges.
State child welfare officials have seized 26 children associated with the Alamo ministries since the September raid, citing stories of alleged beatings and sexual abuse.
© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
More From U.S.
- I guess this is what the Republiscum Party base, the freak evangelical fetus-worshippers, think Jayzus would have us all do.
Stinking HillBilly trash. - Reply to this comment
- He is a scumbag, don;t do as I do, do as I say. F@cking freak.
- Reply to this comment
- middle age white men at there best
Posted by brownbuilder at 02:54 AM : Nov 26, 2008
And they say white people are racist. Well, at least he forgot the single aspect of it.
The only group you can attack with impunity. - Reply to this comment
- middle age white men at there best
- Reply to this comment
- Jesus said, "Suffer the children to come unto Me."
These freaks are just misunderstanding the whole concept.
Religion is the scourge of man, and these freaks are the scourge of the scourge. - Reply to this comment
- Another evangelist in trouble - they preach against everything, but then do it themselves
Posted by arbxxx at 02:55 PM : Nov 25, 2008
===============
Beware the wolf in sheep''s clothing. - Reply to this comment
- Well, it is blessed to come in the name of the lord...
- Reply to this comment
- Well, It could be worse.
He could be an Atheist Pedophile. - Reply to this comment
- Another evangelist in trouble - they preach against everything, but then do it themselves
- Reply to this comment
Best-selling author Mitch Albom on his first nonfiction work since "Tuesdays with Morrie."
