Parents told to cut Alamo ties

A judge has told parents of two teenage girls removed from the Tony Alamo Christian Ministries compound that they can have their children back if they sever ties with the community.

The girls were among six taken from the compound in a Sept. 20 raid amid allegations of beatings and sexual abuse. Last week, 11 boys and nine more girls, ranging in age from 1 to 17, were taken into state care.

Alamo, 74, has been indicted for alleged violations of the Mann Act, which prohibits children being moved from one state to another for sexual purposes.

Miller County Circuit Judge Jim Hudson heard testimony that children at the compound were beaten for minor infractions.

He said the parents of two girls had to move away from Alamo’s compound and demonstrate financial independence if their children were to be returned to them.

The state Department of Human Services alleges that one of the girls had been beaten and that the other had witnessed abuse.