Tony Alamo answered questions from reporters yesterday outside the courthouse in downtown Texarkana, Ark.
(Evan Lewis/ The Texarkana Gazette via Associated Press)
Evangelist gets 175 years for sex crimes
Tony Alamo answered questions from reporters yesterday outside the courthouse in downtown Texarkana, Ark.
(Evan Lewis/ The Texarkana Gazette via Associated Press)
TEXARKANA, Ark. - Evangelist Tony Alamo used his stature as a self-proclaimed prophet to force underage girls into sham marriages with him, controlling his followers with their fears of eternal suffering. The judge who sentenced Alamo yesterday to 175 years in prison for child sex abuse warned of another kind of justice awaiting the evangelist.
“Mr. Alamo, one day you will face a higher and a greater judge than me,’’ said US District Judge Harry F. Barnes. “May he have mercy on your soul.’’
Three of the five victims spoke in court yesterday about how Alamo stole their childhoods and tore apart their families to satisfy his sexual perversions.
Barnes leveled the maximum sentence against the 75-year-old.
Alamo, who has made millions through his ministry, must also pay $250,000 in fines. He will return to court Jan. 13 and Barnes will determine if the five women will be paid restitution.
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