Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

TV evangelist jailed over child 'brides'
Nine News ^ | November 14, 2009

Posted on 11/14/2009 2:03:43 AM PST by myknowledge

Former TV evangelist Tony Alamo has been sentenced to 175 years in prison for taking underage girls across US state lines for sex.

Alamo, original name Bernie Hoffman, was sentenced today in Texarkana, Arkansas.

US District Judge Harry Barnes listened to testimony from Alamo's victims before giving the 75-year-old the maximum time allowed by federal guidelines and effectively ordering that he spend the rest of his life behind bars.

The founder of Tony Alamo Christian Ministries took girls into his organisation as underage "brides".

Five women, aged between 17 and 33, testified in July that Alamo "married" them in private ceremonies while they were children.

One stated that he had wed girls as young as eight.

Alamo was sentenced for 10 separate counts and fined $US270,000.

Judge Barnes said the evangelist took advantage of his status as pastor and threatened the girls with "the loss of their salvation" if they did not cooperate.

He also told Alamo that he will one day face "a greater judge", and "may he have mercy on your soul."

Before the 175-year jail sentence was delivered, Alamo offered a brief statement to the court in which he praised God before adding: "I'm glad I'm me and not the deceived people in the world."

Alamo's lawyers indicated they will appeal the verdict, while a hearing is set for January 13 to determine whether the evangelist's victims will be paid restitution.

Alamo made millions through his ministry. He had a syndicated TV program during the 1970s in which he sung gospel songs in front of a large choir, while his wife Susan delivered the sermons.


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: pedophile; sexcrimes; tonyalamo; tvevangelist

This pedophilic scumbag deserves to spend the rest of his natural life in prison for the sex crimes he committed while representing a religious position, a TV evangelist. What a hypocrite.

1 posted on 11/14/2009 2:03:45 AM PST by myknowledge
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: myknowledge
And he hands out Bible tracts with a 23 year old picture of him on it:



2 posted on 11/14/2009 2:10:15 AM PST by BigSkyFreeper ("The Community Organizer better stop bitching that the community is organizing." - Rush Limbaugh)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: myknowledge

Our Justice System is travesty and because of that, this POS Alamo will be out on the streets before just before his his 251st birthday.


3 posted on 11/14/2009 2:10:40 AM PST by trumandogz (The Democrats are driving us to Socialism at 100 MPH -The GOP is driving us to Socialism at 97.5 MPH)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: trumandogz

Very good, from a UK perspective excellent remark.


4 posted on 11/14/2009 2:36:01 AM PST by vimto (To do the right thing you don't have to be intelligent - you have to be brave (Sasz))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: myknowledge

with a celly named ‘tiny’


5 posted on 11/14/2009 3:02:50 AM PST by knarf (I say things that are true ... I have no proof ... but they're true)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: trumandogz

He’ll probably use the same old photo too.


6 posted on 11/14/2009 3:05:48 AM PST by Tai_Chung
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: knarf

Haha! I was just thinking the same thing.

I hope he gets well aquainted with big bobo during his tenure in prison.


7 posted on 11/14/2009 4:54:15 AM PST by Halfmanhalfamazing ( Socialism is controversial)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: myknowledge

Under the ‘bama, even when the feds get it right, it’s for the wrong reasons; what excited the DOJ about this case wasn’t pedophilia, but evangelism. If this guy had the ‘proper’ political credentials, he would’ve ended up with a cabinet appointment instead of a prison sentence.


8 posted on 11/14/2009 5:58:32 AM PST by Spok (Liberals are living proof that terrorism works.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson