7/14/09 – AP: Jury picked in Tony Alamo’s sex-crime trial
Charleston Daily Mail
July 14, 2009
The Associated Press
Jury picked in evangelist’s sex-crime trial
Lawyers for evangelist Tony Alamo, who is accused of taking five underage girls across state lines for sex, asked potential jurors Tuesday whether they go to church and whether they have any children.
Alamo, 74, is named in a 10-count federal indictment alleging that girls were brought to him while he was in West Virginia and Memphis, Tenn., awaiting a 1994 trial for tax evasion. Prosecutors allege that other girls were abused as late as 2005.
Under extraordinary security, more than 100 potential jurors sat through questioning by lawyers and U.S. District Judge Harry F. Barnes. The jury – comprised of nine men and three women – was seated by midday Tuesday. Opening statements were expected later Tuesday afternoon.
The jury includes an unemployed human resources employee, a finance director for a regional airport and a worker from a local construction company. Lawyers also selected two alternates.
Prosecutors asked the potential jurors whether they could trust children to tell the truth and whether they could tell by looking at a person whether he or she was a child abuser. They also wanted to know whether panel members had any opinions about state child welfare officials. Prosecutor Candace Taylor ended her questioning of jurors by asking whether they believed that Alamo “was being targeted by the United States because of his religious teachings?”
Alamo has claimed a Vatican-led conspiracy against him prompted the charges.
“Can each and every one of you assess a witness’ veracity, one at a time, regardless of their age?” asked Don Ervin, Alamo’s chief lawyer.
Several vehicles with Homeland Security markings were parked around the courthouse, with uniformed officers nearby. The U.S. Marshal Service said last week that it would have additional officers on duty.
Reporters monitored the first round of questioning by audio feed in a court clerk’s office since the courtroom was packed with potential jurors.