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	Miller County Judge Orders Girls Remain in Custody By Charles Crowson KTHV September 27, 2008 http://www.todaysthv.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=73183&catid=2 Two of the six girls taken into state custody following the Sept. 20 raid of the Tony Alamo Christian Church in Fouke, Ark., will remain in foster care. Miller County Circuit Judge Jim Hudson released his verdict around 6:00 p.m. Friday at the county courthouse in Texarkana. His decision came after more than nine hours of testimony in a courtroom that was closed to media and the public. Arkansas Dept. of Human Services Communications Director Julie Munsell says the safety of the six girls, each between 10- and 17-years-old, is the state?s top priority, as they continue their investigation into self-proclaimed world pastor Tony Alamo. Alamo, whose real name is Bernie Lazar Hoffman, was arrested Thursday by federal agents in Flagstaff, Ariz. He?s charged with violating the Mann Act, which involves the interstate trafficking of minors for sex. Alamo had been in California at the time of the Sept. 20 raid in Fouke but was highly vocal, proclaiming his innocence, to both local and national media. According to the Santa Clarita, Calif., Signal, FBI agents raided Alamo?s Southern California compound around 3 a.m. CDT on Sept. 21, nine hours after Fouke. In both raids, agents were looking for evidence and witnesses involved in a two-year investigation into physical and sexual abuse within the church. Following the interviews of children within the church, D.H.S. took six girls into custody for additional questioning. The nature of those exchanges remain confidential, but Judge Hudson determined it was in the girls? best interests to remain under the state?s care. Their next court appearance, which is an adjudication hearing, scheduled for Oct. 20. Custody hearings for the remaining four girls, which Today?s THV has learned are two pairs of sisters, is scheduled to begin Monday morning at the Miller County Courthouse. THV?s Charles Crowson will continue following this story in Texarkana Monday and have more on Today?s THV This Morning and on www.todaysthv.com.
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