4 girls from Alamo compound to stay with state
Four girls taken from an evangelist’s compound in southwest Arkansas will remain in state custody after their parents waived a probable-cause hearing, a state official said Monday.
Julie Munsell, a spokeswoman for the Department of Human Services, said that parents of four of the six girls taken from the Tony Alamo Christian Ministries compound waived their right to go before a judge.
The girls were two sets of sisters taken from the compound, she said. An adjudication hearing on whether the girls will stay in state care will be held Oct. 21.
Miller County Circuit Judge Jim Hudson ruled Friday that the state had probable cause to keep two other girls in custody. A hearing on the future of those girls will be held Oct. 20.
Alamo was arrested in Arizona last week on charges he took minors across state lines for sexual purposes. He has waived his right to fight extradition to Arkansas.
Nine girls were assessed by state workers at the compound because of allegations of sexual abuse. Six girls, ages 10 to 17, were removed because officials were worried they were in immediate danger.