KHTS Radio Santa Clarita Radio – Santa Clarita News
Tony Alamo, a self-proclaimed pastor and child rapist who owned Sierra Highway property in Acton and had an online ministry in his name despite a 175-year federal prison sentence for sex crimes against children, died Wednesday. He was 82.
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Alamo, aka Bernie LaZar Hoffman, was convicted in 2009 of transporting children across state lines for sexual purposes. He was given the maximum allowable sentence. He died in a federal prison facility in North Carolina, with about 167 years left on his sentence.
Alamo had been in ailing health the last two years, according to W. David Carter, a Texarkana-based attorney who has fought for years to recover damages from Alamo’s various estates.
Carter represents seven girls also referred to as his “child brides,” who were all underage “ when Alamo was convicted of transporting them across state line for sexual purposes, as well as two men who were boys when they were beaten and starved by members of the church.
Two of the properties still sought by Carter include land in the Santa Clarita Valley, including the church that still bears his name and is suspected to be responsible for numerous fliers put on cars in Canyon Country.
One of the challenges in getting the SCV properties is that Alamo, after a 1998 conviction for tax evasion, Alamo began to change the way he acquired and titled property, Carter said, noting they were put in the names of his followers. The Sierra Highway property for example, was sold to a property management company, he said, and his firm is still contesting the sale years later.
He said he’s been able to wrangle a “substantial amount” for each of the victims against a more than half-billion-dollar judgment levied against the convicted rapist.
Previous story: Tony Alamo Victims’ Lawyer To Seek Sierra Highway Land
A circuit judge in Arkansas awarded $525 million in damages to seven women who were physically and sexually abused by Tony Alamo when they belonged to the evangelist’s ministry, according to a report by Lynn LaRowe of the Texarkana Gazette.
In the meantime, followers at Tony Alamo‘s Santa Clarita Valley properties on Sierra Highway continue to carry on the church in the name of Alamo. There’s also a property in the Acton area, according to Carter.
“Once we took all their (stuff) they cleared out of Arkansas,” Carter said, noting Alamo had more than 30 properties, most in Arkansas, when Carter began to go after him. “It’s amazing how once you take the roof from over their hood, it takes the fight out of their spirit for (Alamo).”
I am glad to hear he is gone. His victims should be awarded his properties.
He may of had 175 years left on earth to serve, but now he has eternity to burn in hell.
Good riddance.
Its creepy to think he still has followers, and that they are close by!!! Yikes!!!!
I’m proud to be a follower of Pastor Tony Alamo!
what’s
the matter with you ?
Tony and Susan Alamo Christian Foundation are a big part of Saugus/Newhall history……they even built the canyon high football bleachers……..
He would never repent for all the child raping, mean spiritedness, starvations of congregants, imprisonments of women and children who could not escape his armed guards, ruthless beatings of innocent children, till blood oozed out of their pants !! etc. now the tables have turned… HE will never escape his pit in a burning hell !! he sealed his own fate and sentenced his own self to an eternity of unspeakable torture. bye bye Bernie.
I’m glad this predator is gone , hopefully his followers will soon follow . And no more leaflets on our car windows .
Things changed after Susan died of cancer. When I was there, I learned a lot about myself, about God and the Bible and also learned a lot of useful skills. After I left the church with my family, many years ago, I was able to move on with my life. I have had a productive and successful career helping others. I hope and pray that the ones that are still there can realize that there is a wonderful world outside of that place and that people are willing to help them to adjust.
I agree with you my ex and I started there many years ago. 1987. I believe, it was definitely different then. I learned a lot, wouldn’t take it back for anything. We never moved in our anything just attended the services and went to hollywood to help bring people to Jesus! Loved it!
I can’ believe this person commited all his crime in name of God and the Church is still under his name.?? Make me not believe in Religion.!
“the wicked shall be turned in to hell” Tony Alamo never asked anyone’s forgiveness or admitted to one iota of wrongdoing. He never repented, just kept on controlling his devoted minions from Federal prison, up till the very end of his sorry life…he’s crisping right now in a well deserving hell ! it was created for the devil and his angels, and ALL WICKED evil doers.