New York Evangelist Faces New Federal Charges

In New York, an evangelist named Tony Alamo is currently facing eight new sex crime charges.  Alamo was initially arrested for taking children across state lines for sex. 

The new charges, according to Alamo's defense attorney, are similar to charges Alamo is already facing.  He would not name the exact charges, but said that they were "the same kind of stuff, just more of it."

Prosecutors presiding over the case filed a sealed indictment against Alamo as he testified in court on Monday during a child custody case. The custody case involved accusations that girls were seized from the Fouke compound of the Tony Alamo Christian Ministries.  Alamo pled not guilty and also waived his right to an arraignment hearing that day. 

In most cases, sealed indictments are made public after an initial hearing, and a detention hearing has been set for December 10th.

Alamo was arrested by FBI agents in September five days after his compound was searched by federal agents and state police.  Alamo maintains that he is innocent and has pled not guilty, instead he blames a federal push to legalize same-sex marriages while outlawing polygamy.

In the past, Alamo has been convicted of tax evasion and is reported to subscribe to the belief that intercourse is permissible with young girls once they reach puberty.  Alamo said, "consent is puberty."  He remains in federal custody due to his criminal charges.

In September, state child welfare officials seized 26 children from Alamo's compound after hearing stories of beatings and sexual abuse.

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