Times Record Online Edition
January 9, 2014
By Jeff Arnold
Times Record • jarnold@swtimes.com

Alamo Ministries Member Gets Life Sentence on Child Sex Charge

A member of Tony Alamo Ministries was sentenced to life in prison Thursday by a U.S. District Court judge who called his actions “the most reprehensible conduct I’ve seen in my tenure on the bench.”

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Texarkana Gazette
January 15, 2014
By: Lynn LaRowe – Texarkana Gazette

Former Alamo members file suit.
Five women from 2009 criminal case, two others seek damages in state court

Seven women, all former members of Tony Alamo Christian Ministries, filed a civil lawsuit Tuesday in state court in Miller County, Ark., seeking damages for suffering they endured under imprisoned evangelist Tony Alamo’s control.

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Texarkana Gazette
January 13, 2014
By: Lynn LaRowe – Texarkana Gazette

Alamo follower gets life for sexual misconduct with three young girls

A Tony Alamo Christian Ministries member received life in prison Thursday for sexual misconduct with three young girls whose mother was a ministry member as well.

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The Citywire
January 9, 2014
Submitted by The City Wire Staff

Tony Alamo ministry member sentenced to life in prison

Conner Eldridge, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced Thursday (Jan. 9) that Douglas James Christopher, 60, of Valparaiso, Ind., was sentenced today for knowingly transporting a minor from Oklahoma to Arkansas with the intent to engage in sexual activity.

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Texarkana Gazette
January 3, 2014
By: Lynn LaRowe – Texarkana Gazette

Judge dismisses lawsuit by Alamo former wives

A federal civil lawsuit filed in 2010 on behalf of former wives of imprisoned evangelist and polygamist Tony Alamo has been dismissed.

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Texarkana Gazette
January 2, 2014
By: Lynn LaRowe – Texarkana Gazette

February hearing set for Alamo properties case

A federal judge has scheduled a hearing for February to address a second group of properties in Fouke and Fort Smith, Ark., associated with imprisoned evangelist Tony Alamo.

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Texarkana Gazette
December 20, 2013
By: Lynn LaRowe – Texarkana Gazette

Marshals asked to step in

Motion accuses Alamo followers of gutting property up for auction

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Brownsville Herald
December 20, 2013
Associated Press

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Texarkana Gazette
December, 15, 2013
By: Lynn LaRowe – Texarkana Gazette

Six Alamo properties set for auction

Six Fort Smith, Ark., properties owned by imprisoned evangelist Tony Alamo are scheduled for auction by federal marshals next month.

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Texarkana Gazette
December 8, 2013
By: Lynn LaRowe – Texarkana Gazette

Alamo followers again claim property ownership

Several followers of imprisoned evangelist Tony Alamo have submitted claims of ownership to properties in Fouke and Fort Smith, Ark., that a federal judge has ruled can be sold to partially satisfy a $30 million judgment Alamo owes in a civil suit.

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Texarkana Gazette
November 3, 2013
By: Lynn LaRowe – Texarkana Gazette

Judge: Alamo ‘true’ owner of properties
Officials ordered to sell properties to satisfy final judgment

Convicted sex offender and evangelist Tony Alamo is the true owner of properties associated with his group, a federal judge ruled Thursday in a civil lawsuit involving two former members of Alamo Ministries.

“The U.S. Marshal is directed to sell the properties at issue … to satisfy the final judgment in this matter,” U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry Bryant’s Oct. 31 opinion states. “The court finds the ownership claims made to the properties (by Alamo followers) are not valid, and further finds Bernie Lazar Hoffman, aka, Tony Alamo, is the true owner of the properties.”

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Texarkana Gazette
November 3, 2013
By: Lynn LaRowe – Texarkana Gazette

Lawyers ordered to show how Alamo is paying for legal fees

Imprisoned evangelist Tony Alamo’s lawyers aren’t taking seriously a federal judge’s order to turn over information about how Alamo and his wife are paying legal fees, according to a motion filed Monday.

Texarkana lawyer David Carter and Irving, Texas, lawyer Neil Smith filed a motion earlier this month asking U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry Bryant to compel Tony Alamo and wife Sharon Alamo to answer questions about how they’re paying their lawyers. The motion is filed in a civil case involving two men raised in the controversial group who are each owed a $15 million judgment by Alamo.

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Texarkana Gazette
October 20, 2013
By: Lynn LaRowe Best – Texarkana Gazette

Judge rules Alamo, wife must reveal money source

Imprisoned evangelist Tony Alamo and wife Sharon Alamo must reveal the source of money they use to pay their lawyers, a federal judge ruled Thursday.

Lawyers Neil Smith of Irving, Texas, and David Carter of Texarkana said they believe Alamo is concealing a “large sum of money,” some of which they assert is being used for legal fees.

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Texarkana Gazette
October 10, 2013
By: Jim Williamson – Texarkana Gazette

Video Makes Alamo seem still in control of Ministries

In recorded video testimony played Tuesday, Tony Alamo, who is serving a 175-year federal prison sentence, appeared to still control Tony Alamo Christian Ministries from prison.

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Texarkana Gazette
September 20, 2013
By: Lynn LaRowe – Texarkana Gazette

A LOOK BACK AT THE ALAMO RAID
Retired FBI agent remembers taking part in bust of Tony Alamo’s Fouke compound

Five years ago today, about 100 members of the FBI and Arkansas State Police raided the Tony Alamo Ministries compound in Fouke, Ark., just outside of Texarkana.

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Texarkana Gazette
September 14, 2013
By: Lynn LaRowe Best – Texarkana Gazette

Judge throws out most claims to Alamo properties
Trial to address remaining claimants

Tony Alamo Christian Ministries members who claim ownership interests in six properties a federal judge has ruled can be sold have had most of their claims thrown out.

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Mail Online (UK)
September 9, 2013
By Matt Blank

Yemeni child bride, 8, dies of internal injuries on first night of forced marriage to groom 5 times her age

An eight-year-old child bride has died in Yemen of internal bleeding sustained during her wedding night after being forced to marry a man five times her age, activists have claimed.

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Texarkana Gazette
September 7, 2013
By: Lynn LaRowe Best – Texarkana Gazette

Alamo followers fill court
Members want judge to rethink property ruling

Close to 100 members of Tony Alamo Christian Ministries showed for a hearing Friday to address claims to properties a federal judge previously ruled can be sold.

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UALR Public Radio
September 5, 2013
By Jacob Kauffman

Fate of Tony Alamo Properties To Be Determined

Tony Alamo, the founder of Tony Alamo Christian Ministries and a convicted child sex offender, is currently serving 175 years in prison. But Alamo still owes millions in restitution to his victims – something a hearing Friday hopes to address.

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Texarkana Gazette
August 21, 2013
By Lynn LaRowe Best – Texarkana Gazette

Hearing expected to focus on Tony Alamo properties

A federal judge is expected to address motions concerning properties associated with Tony Alamo at a hearing early next month. In July, U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry Bryant scheduled a hearing to address a writ of execution he signed previously giving the go-ahead to sell six properties to partially satisfy a $30 million judgment owed by Alamo to two men raised in Alamo’s controversial ministry.

Spencer Ondrisek and Seth Calagna are owed $3 million each in actual damages and $12 million each in punitive damages. Alamo is serving a 175-year federal prison sentence for bringing five women he wed as children across state lines for sex.

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