7/23/09 – Jurors to weigh sex-crimes charges against Tony Alamo
The Washington Post
July 23, 2009
By JON GAMBRELL
The Associated Press
Jurors to weigh sex-crimes charges against pastor
A federal jury has begun deliberations on sex-crimes charges against evangelist Tony Alamo that could send him to prison for the rest of his life.
The jury of nine men and three women began work at 8:16 a.m. Thursday. They are weighing evidence from a seven-day trial in Texarkana in which Alamo is accused of taking young girls across state lines for sex.
Prosecutors and defense lawyers made closing arguments on Wednesday.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyra Jenner described Alamo as a manipulator who dictated everything from what his followers believed to what they could eat.
Defense lawyer Phillip Kuhn accused prosecutors of trying to turn the jury into a “moral mob” by including information unrelated to the charges.