Christian "Ministries" Leader Allegedly Had 9 Year Old Wife

A while back I did a post or two about the FBI and police raid on the Tony Alamo Christian Ministries compound in southwest Arkansas fueled by concerns that Alamo took a minor across state lines for sex. Now, new reports are that Alamo (pictured at left) will not be released on bond and that he may have had a 9 year old girl among his alleged multiple wives. I find the situation ironic in that Alamo and his "ministries" are precisely the types of "Christians" rallying to the standard of Sarah Palin. Gay marriage bad, religious lunacy and fanaticism good. Here are some highlights from CNN.com:

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A federal magistrate called Tony Alamo a flight risk Wednesday as he ordered the evangelist held without bail until his trial on charges that he took a minor across state lines for sex. The ruling came after Alamo's former followers testified at a hearing that they were often beaten at his instructions and one said Alamo practiced polygamy with several females, including a 9-year-old girl.

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Alamo, 74, said nothing after the ruling. His trial is scheduled for November 19. He was arrested in Flagstaff, Arizona, five days after a September 20 police raid on the Tony Alamo Christian Ministries compound in the southwest Arkansas town of Fouke. Six girls were taken into state custody for their protection.

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One witness called to the stand by prosecutors Wednesday, Jael Sprinkle, 32, testified that she was taken as Alamo's wife at age 17 and was considered his wife for two years. She said that Alamo had five other wives at the time and that she knew of him taking a 9-year-old girl as one.
Alamo is an advocate of allowing girls to marry when they reach puberty but has denied such unions took place within his organization.

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The federal charging document accuses Alamo of taking a 13-year-old girl across state lines for sex in 2004 and of aiding and abetting her transport across state lines for sex in 2005. Alamo, who is listed in court documents by his real name of Bernie Lazar Hoffman, has pleaded not guilty to the two charges, each of which carries a sentence of 10 years to life in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.