Bakker Enters Halfway House After Serving 4 1/2 Years in Prison

Jim Bakker returned Friday to the state where his lucrative TV ministry began, arriving at a halfway house after 4 1/2 years in prison for defrauding investors out of millions of dollars.

“I’m glad to be back in the Carolinas and I’m glad to be with my son today,” said Bakker, who built his religious empire, Heritage USA, near Charlotte. “I’m excited to be anywhere.”

Accompanied by his teen-age son, Jamie, and his attorney, the former PTL leader arrived at a Salvation Army halfway house shortly after 11 a.m. He had left a minimum-security prison in Jesup, Ga., about seven hours earlier and flew to this city in the Blue Ridge Mountains, where he must stay until Dec. 1.

Bakker, 53, was convicted in 1989 of defrauding thousands of his followers who sent him at least $1,000 each in return for promised lodging at Heritage USA for three days and four nights every year for the rest of their lives.

During his trial, prosecutors said the scheme brought about $158 million into PTL from far more people than Heritage USA could accommodate. Rather than building promised hotels for his followers, Bakker spent their contributions to live in luxury himself.

Bakker chatted for a few minutes Friday with reporters before going inside the one-story brick halfway house. Bakker will live with about 15 other men at the center and be driven to a job in the area. Officials would not disclose further details.

Bakker’s attorney, Jim Toms, would not comment on reports that Bakker’s job would be at his law office in nearby Hendersonville.

“I can’t think of a better place in the world for Jim Bakker to be than the Salvation Army,” Toms said after bringing his client a turkey club sandwich and a slice of Key lime pie for lunch.

Jamie Bakker will live in the Hendersonville area until his father is released from the halfway house, Toms said.

Bakker began his television ministry in Charlotte, and before it collapsed in 1987 he was host of a popular television show and ran Heritage USA as a major Christian resort and religious retreat in South Carolina.

Bakker’s original 45-year sentence was reduced by an appellate judge, who said a federal judge made inappropriate remarks about the case.

While he was in prison, Bakker was divorced by his wife of 30 years, Tammy Faye. She later was remarried to Roe Messner, who was the chief builder at Heritage USA.