Jurors to take up Alamo case in morning

By The Associated Press

TEXARKANA — Jurors at the sex-crimes trial of evangelist Tony Alamo will begin deliberating the preacher's fate in the morning.

Alamo is named in a 10-count federal indictment alleging he took young girls across state lines for sex. Prosecutors and defense lawyers gave their closing arguments Wednesday afternoon, then Judge Harry F. Barnes sent the jury home for the evening. It will begin discussing the case Thursday morning.

Prosecutors told jurors that Alamo is a predator who must be stopped. Defense lawyers said the girls were moved to do legitimate church work and that prosecutors brought up issues not related to the indictment.

Alamo chose not to testify on his own behalf. The minister's legal team rested its case after persuading the 74-year-old pastor that he should not directly challenge testimony that said he "married" the girls while they were underage.

Special Section: Tony Alamo

• Counts against Alamo
• Video interviews with children from ministry
• Alamo indictment (PDF)
• Alamo affidavit (PDF)
• Transcript of interview with girl, 14
• Transcript of interview with girl, 17
• Transcript of interview with girl, 10
• Transcript of interview with girl, 11

In testimony early Wednesday, a woman said a daughter of hers who purportedly "married" Alamo had "adolescent problems" and was sent to live with Alamo.

Defense lawyers have said the government targeted Alamo because it doesn't like his apocalyptic brand of Christianity. Alamo has blamed the Vatican for his legal troubles, which include a four-year prison term for tax evasion in the 1990s.

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.

With no 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.

"He had control over everything," said a 30-year-old woman from Florida who left the compound after objecting to Alamo's taking an 8-year-old "bride."

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

"I felt the strength of the board. I felt it on my leg. I didn't like how it felt," said an 18-year-old who testified that Alamo "married" her at age 8.

The woman considered to be Alamo's common-law wife, Sharon Alamo, said she believed that wedding rings found in the compound were gifts to the ministry. She said the girls were moved about the country as they worked for Alamo, who has 100-200 followers.

Defense witnesses included two women whose currently underage children are being sought by Arkansas child-welfare officials. Neither testified about the children's whereabouts, citing their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Both were served state documents ordering them to surrender the children to the state, which has already removed 36 children from Alamo's compound at Fouke.