Evangelist Who Took Child ‘Brides’ Is Sentenced to 175 Years

Tony Alamo, an evangelist, was sentenced Friday to 175 years in prison for taking under-age girls across state lines for sex.

Mr. Alamo, 75, was convicted in July on a 10-count federal indictment. Judge Harry F. Barnes of Federal District Court said Mr. Alamo had abused his status as father figure and pastor and threatened the girls with “the loss of their salvation.”

“Mr. Alamo, one day you will face a higher, a greater judge than me,” Judge Barnes said. “May he have mercy on your soul.”

The evangelist offered a brief statement to the court praising God, then adding, “I’m glad I’m me and not the deceived people in the world.”

Mr. Alamo’s lawyers said they planned to appeal the sentence.

The evangelist will stay in Texarkana pending a Jan. 13 hearing in which Judge Barnes will decide whether Mr. Alamo’s victims deserve restitution from him. Mr. Alamo will then go to a federal prison, the judge said.