Hearings set for girls taken from Alamo compound

FOUKE (AP) Hearings will begin Friday on whether the state can keep temporary custody of six girls taken from the Tony Alamo Christian Ministries compound after a federal raid, a judge said.

Circuit Court Judge Jim Hudson said probable-cause hearings for two of the girls will be held at 9 a.m. Friday at the Miller County Courthouse in Texarkana. The remaining four hearings will be at 9 a.m. Monday, also in Texarkana, he said.

The girls, ranging in age from 10 to 17, all have been identified through police investigation and birth certificates, state officials said.

State and federal agents raided Alamo's Fouke compound Saturday night, searching for evidence that children there had been molested or filmed having sex. FBI officials say federal agents are investigating Alamo for possible violations of the Mann Act meaning children may have been taken across state lines for criminal purposes.

Alamo, who has denied the allegations, has not been arrested.

.story-ad {

width: 310px;

float: left;

margin: 0 10px 10px 0;

padding: 4px;

}

- Advertisement -

OAS_AD('x22');

The six hearings will be split among three circuit judges serving Miller County. Judges will decide whether the state had enough evidence to warrant temporarily removing the children from their homes. If a judge rules against the state, the girl would be returned to her parents.

Hudson said all hearings, testimony and documents will be sealed because the cases involve juveniles.

"The Arkansas juvenile code was written to protect children above all. That's why DHS (Department of Human Services) has the duty and the power to take children on their own for 72 hours and that's why the court may authorize removal only on the department's sworn statements for another period of days," Hudson told the Texarkana Gazette.

"Second only to protecting children, along with that terrible responsibility, is the right of parents or guardians to be heard quickly in case there is a mistake or lack of evidence," he said.

According to a press release from the judge's office, only parents, lawyers, witnesses and authorized court staff will be able to attend the hearings.