Bakker Trial Witness Ailing, 2nd Collapses

A PTL executive-turned-government-witness was hospitalized and another collapsed Wednesday after testifying he warned Jim Bakker that “someone could go to jail” over the ministry’s fund-raising practices.

Bakker, prompted by his lawyer, knelt at witness Steve Nelson’s side and prayed. The TV evangelist later broke down in tears.

Nelson was revived after a few seconds and said he had not eaten for a few days. He was taken from the courtroom by paramedics, and court was recessed for the day.

Earlier, former PTL executive vice president Richard Dortch, expected to be a key witness at Bakker’s fraud and conspiracy trial, was hospitalized in Clearwater, Fla., said Paul Gramblin, spokesman for Morton Plant Hospital.

Gramblin said that Dortch, who lives in Safety Harbor, Fla., asked doctors not to disclose details of his condition.

Prosecutors say Bakker and other PTL executives diverted for their own use more than $4 million of the $158 million raised from PTL “partners,” who gave $1,000 for three nights of free lodging a year for life at the empire’s hotels.

Nelson, former PTL vice president for world outreach, testified Wednesday that he had warned Bakker and Dortch that PTL had oversold partnerships.

“I told them I thought we had some big-time problems,” Nelson said. “I specifically said, ‘Someone could go to jail for this.’ ”

Nelson said that when he first discussed the overbookings with Bakker in 1985, “He told me not to worry, that there was always room at the inn.”