Jurors convict evangelist (Tony Alamo) on all 10 sex counts

[Tab]

Source: Associated Press

TEXARKANA, Ark. — Tony Alamo, a one-time street preacher who became an outfitter of the stars and fought the federal government over claims he underpaid followers for church work, was convicted Friday of taking five girls across state lines for sex.

The jury of nine men and three women found Alamo guilty of taking girls as young as 9 across state lines for sex, in violation of a nearly century-old federal law. Alamo was accused in a 10-count indictment that said the abuse started in 1994. Sentencing will be in six to eight weeks.

Women ranging from age 17 to 33 told jurors that Alamo "married" them in private ceremonies while they were minors, sometimes giving them wedding rings. Each detailed trips beyond Arkansas' borders for Alamo's sexual gratification.

Alamo, 74, never testified. His lawyers told him he should not directly challenge their testimony and they argued to jurors that the girls traveled for legitimate church business.

State and federal agents raided Alamo's compound last Sept. 20 after repeated reports of abuse.
...
With little physical evidence, prosecutors relied on the women's stories to paint an emotional portrait of a charismatic religious leader who controlled every aspect of his subjects' lives. No one obtained food, clothing or transportation without him knowing about it.

At times, men were ordered away from the compound and their wives kept as another Alamo bride. Minor offenses from either gender drew beatings or starvation fasts.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j7JRsIm1DgSBIfIFSL3D_fjT1HmwD99KTJSG4

[sakabatou]

1. This doesn't surprise me.

[MineralMan]

2. Good. Now toss him in the federal slammer for the rest

of his sorry-assed life.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

3. What you said.

:mad:

[Jkid]

4. What was the nearly century-old federal law the report refered to?

[trungpa ricochet]

9. Mann Act

I believe it is this law: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mann_Act

[mbperrin]

5. Gosh, having sex with minors under religious pretexts is illegal!!??

Better not let the folks at the FLDS compound in Eldorado, Texas know. They think they're just misunderstood.

After all, Oprah went down there and put them on the teevee and all.

Maybe Tony should have had Oprah to Arkansas!

[valerief]

6. "the girls traveled for legitimate church business."

Yeah, monkey business!

[HopeHoops]

7. "God wants me to be a pervert".

Why don't they just come out and say it?

[pattmarty]

8. Fuck ALL religions!!!!!!!!!!!!! When it comes to religion, I am an equal...........

...............opportunity hater.

[sarcasmo]

10. Evangelist: Alamo Guilty of Sex Crimes.

Source: AP

Snip < TEXARKANA, Ark. (July 24) - Tony Alamo, a one-time street preacher who built a multimillion-dollar ministry and became an outfitter of the stars, was convicted Friday of taking girls as young as 9 across state lines for sex.
Alamo stood silently as the verdict was read, a contrast to his occasional mutterings during testimony. His five victims sat looking forward in the gallery. One, a woman he "married" at age 8, wiped away a tear.




Read more: http://news.aol.com/article/alamo-guilty-of-sex-crimes/566176

---

One snip is all that is needed. One more in the long line of religious zealots who will wind up using the ole jesus told me do it line.

[joeybee12]

11. And the story is Michael Jackson-related!

Tony designed the jacket Michael wore on the cover of his Bad album.

[dgibby]

12. I really despise these bastards. n/t

[radhika]

13. So, the girl's parents are in the clear?

Obviously the 8 and 9 year old 'brides' were delivered to this sociopath by adults who either birthed or are raising them. What demented, toxic family would do this to a child? And are THEY going to jail too?

I'm sure there was a whole passel of adults 'IN' on the game.

[maddezmom]

14. kick

[cosmicone]

15. Evangelist guilty of taking minors across state lines for sex

Source: CNN

A jury in Arkansas convicted evangelist Tony Alamo on Friday of 10 federal counts of taking minors across state lines for sex, according to the court in the Western District in Arkansas.


Evangelist Tony Alamo was convicted of all 10 counts against him and will be sentenced later.

Authorities in September charged Alamo, the 74-year-old founder and leader of Tony Alamo Christian Ministries, and raided his 15-acre compound near Texarkana, Arkansas.

Jurors reached the verdict after more than eight hours of deliberations. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.

Between March 1994 and October 2005, Alamo transported five girls younger than 18 across state lines for sex, according to the indictment.

Read more: http://edition.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/07/24/arkansas.evangelist.trial/index.html?eref=rss_crime

[xchrom]

16. Republican Family Values at Work!!! nt

[Quantess]

17. He is more than just your garden variety republican pedophile creep.

I am familiar with this story. Fascinating to read about, actually.
This horrible man warped many young and vulnerable minds while he quenched his needs for money and power.

[xchrom]

18. disclaimer: i am a believer -- HOWEVER you have just capsualized

organized religion in all kinds of ways.


it's a bitter pill believers have to swallow along with the rest.

odd -- a little like the eucharist.

[Quantess]

19. This creep goes beyond "organized religion". Seriously, read up about his cult.

http://www.freedomofmind.com/resourcecenter/groups/a/alamo/

[Quantess]

23. For Tony Alamo survivors, religious abuse scars the soul

It's been 23 years since Diane Bach left the Tony Alamo Christian Ministries compound in Arkansas, but she still struggles to make decisions for herself.

As a St. Helens waitress hands Bach a menu during a recent lunch meeting, she swallows hard. Her hands begin to tremble; she shifts uncomfortably in her chair. Soon, she's sweating and red blotches pool on her chest like spilled wine.

"I'm sorry," she says. "I have a lot of trouble ordering from a simple menu because, to this day, I have trouble making my own choices."


http://www.religionnewsblog.com/22568/for-tony-alamo-survivors-religious-abuse-scars-the-soul

[AlbertCat]

22. it's a bitter pill believers have to swallow along with the rest.

Why?

It's easy.

Just reject ancient superstitions and know that there is nothing supernatural, because if it exists, it must be natural.

There. Problem solved. You don't have to "swallow" anything.

[Odin2005]

25. +1.

[Misskittycat]

20. It took then eight hours?

[opihimoimoi]

21. This goes beyond the STONING LEVEL....he must be punished as stated in the Bible

Death by UNGAAWAH

[Odin2005]

24. Given this guy's Christo-Fascism I suggest we give him a biblical punishment.

DEATH!

[lexanman]

26. just damn

It was about the time I realized there was no Santa Claus or Easter Bunny when I realized what fantasy thinking was. I realize the power and excitement that comes with it and how people can be drawn in and indoctrinated with it. This guy really is one of the worst assholes Iv'e come across in reading these types of stories.

[Frank Cannon]

27. This guy once exhumed his wife's corpse and tried to resurrect it

He actually held onto it for years until a judge made him put it back.

I thought this whack job had been thrown in the stir a long time ago. I had no idea he was free.

[Odin2005]

28. EDIT: realized I already posted...