Arkansas appeals court upholds state’s seizure of children from Tony Alamo ministries

Court upholds seizure of kids from Alamo compound

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Arkansas Court of Appeals has ruled that state child welfare officials properly seized children from the Tony Alamo Christian Ministries after a police raid.

The appeals court issued three opinions Wednesday dealing with the children taken by welfare officials after a September 2008 raid at Alamo’s compound.

In one ruling, Judge Robert J. Gladwin wrote that testimony at closed hearings about the seizures showed “a clear picture of danger to the children in the ministry compound at Fouke.”

Gladwin added that judges had “no hesitation” in affirming a lower court’s decision to allow the seizures.

Alamo was sentenced to 175 years in federal prison last week after being convicted of taking young girls across state lines for sex.