Arkansas Raid on "compound" steals 6 children... Sound Familiar?

[K. Darien Freeheart]

A friend notified me of this story from the Associated Press today. Allegations of sexual abuse used to raid a non-traditional Christian "compound" lead by "tax evading" "cult leader".

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iM_k_Z5_nC3gb0btse0fgEAFl4RAD93BPO7O0

[error]

I've actually heard of this guy. Apparently they're going ever closer to the mainstream with the raids on children.

[KBCraig]

I've actually heard of this guy. Apparently they're going ever closer to the mainstream with the raids on children.

Bernie Hoffman is nowhere near "mainstream".

[J’raxis 270145]

Same old excuse, works every time.

[KBCraig]

The case will probably be blown, because the feds screwed up.

http://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/localnews/2008/09/23/e-mail-mistake-moved-up-date-of-alamo-ra-16.php

E-mail mistake moved up date of Alamo raid
By: Lynn LaRowe - Texarkana Gazette - Published: 09/23/2008

An inadvertent mouse click may have led the FBI to raid the Tony Alamo Christian Ministries compound in Fouke, Ark., weeks ahead of schedule.

An e-mail meant for interoffice communication between staff at the U.S. Attorney's Office serving the Western District of Arkansas accidentally was mailed to several media outlets late Friday afternoon.

"As you know, the search of the compound—based on a federal violation that we believe Alamo produced child pornography at the compound—is scheduled for this October," said an e-mail requesting an approval of travel expenses meant for supervisors at the U.S. Attorney's Office.

When the mistake was realized, officials contacted news agencies that had received the sensitive e-mail and requested they withhold it from the public. The search warrants were executed shortly before 6 p.m. Saturday.

The e-mail noted two planning meetings scheduled to address the needs of children that might be removed from the compound following the execution of the search warrants.

"The purpose of both meetings is to plan a coordinated response to the children who are at the compound, such as who will take temporary custody of them, who will pay for their care, provide medical care, etc. (for example the children aren't vaccinated, so I am told they can't be thrown right into a group home with other kids)," the e-mail memo said.

"My concern is that 12-, 13- and 14-year-old girls living on the compound will need special attention because these girls are most likely to be the victims of the crimes we will charge. I want our office to have an awareness and sensitivity to the needs of those girls in particular," the e-mail said.

Changes in the way media news releases are distributed may be coming, said U.S. Attorney Robert Balfe, who heads the office in the Western District of Arkansas.

"Unfortunately, it was very easy," Balfe said of the misdirected e-mail. "Somehow it got sent to the media list."

Balfe said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Deborah Groom, who it appears sent the wayward communication, "... is devastated that this happened and that it got out."

Groom described the accidental click as "horrifying."

"It was a terrible mistake," she said.

Balfe said his office will continue to use extreme care in its use of electronic mail.

"One thing might be to have a computer in the office designated for sending press releases so media lists aren't on every computer," Balfe said.

[William]

I've actually heard of this guy. Apparently they're going ever closer to the mainstream with the raids on children.

Bernie Hoffman is nowhere near "mainstream".

?? It says his name is Tony Alamo. Is that an alias?

[David]

Same old excuse, works every time.

Yup.

[KBCraig]

I've actually heard of this guy. Apparently they're going ever closer to the mainstream with the raids on children.

Bernie Hoffman is nowhere near "mainstream".

?? It says his name is Tony Alamo. Is that an alias?

His name is Bernie Lazar Hoffman. Some sources claim he legally changed his name to his stage name of Tony Alamo, but there are no records of it. Calling him "Bernie" is a local way of making fun of him. (Y'all did realize this is only about 15 miles from me, right?)

I'm no defender of the feds here, but I do have to point out that there are lots of families trying to get their children back from Alamo's group. It's likely that those six girls who were taken into state custody weren't with their parents, because the Alamo M.O. is to divide families, so that if a parent decides to leave, they can't take the children. Spouses are likewise separated from each other. They're likely to be in California or New York instead of Arkansas.

There are quite a few cases where a parent or spouse has left the group and spent decades trying to get their loved ones out. Sometimes both parents have gotten out, but have never seen their children again.

[K. Darien Freeheart]

There are quite a few cases where a parent or spouse has left the group and spent decades trying to get their loved ones out. Sometimes both parents have gotten out, but have never seen their children again.

I read the article of the father trying to get the kids back from his girlfriend and though "tough cookies". There are a TON of single parent homes, the fact that the single parent happens to live on a "compound" doesn't matter to me. I would say that the "both parents" thing is too far UNLESS the young people staying are clear it's their decision and since I can neither confirm nor deny that, I will assume it's a mix of both.

I respect the choices of the young people to stay if their parents go.

And if the last part is true, that kids are being kidnapped, they should stop condeming "Tony Alama Ministries" and start naming names of kidnappers. Their religious practices, what goes on in their bedrooms, their customs all mean absolutely nothing to the fact that they may have stolen children that wish to return home.

[J’raxis 270145]

... I do have to point out that there are lots of families trying to get their children back from Alamo's group. It's likely that those six girls who were taken into state custody weren't with their parents, because the Alamo M.O. is to divide families, so that if a parent decides to leave, they can't take the children. Spouses are likewise separated from each other. They're likely to be in California or New York instead of Arkansas.

There are quite a few cases where a parent or spouse has left the group and spent decades trying to get their loved ones out. Sometimes both parents have gotten out, but have never seen their children again.

So in other words, this group is almost as bad as the government's "child protective services" departments.