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Alamo Follower Pleads Guilty in Sexual Abuse Case

A former member of the Tony Alamo Christian Ministries pleaded guilty to sexual abuse charges Wednesday (Aug. 14), according to Conner Eldridge, United States A...
douglas christopher2

A former member of the Tony Alamo Christian Ministries pleaded guilty to sexual abuse charges Wednesday (Aug. 14), according to Conner Eldridge, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas.

Douglas Christopher, 59, of Valparaiso, Indiana, pleaded guilty to knowingly transporting a minor from Oklahoma to Arkansas with the intent to engage in sexual activity. He faces a life sentence in prison and a fine of $250,000.

In 2009 Christopher lived at an Alamo compound located in Muldrow and was assigned to guard the organization’s properties, court documents state. Beginning around June 2003, Christopher began taking a minor to one of the locations in Fort Smith known as the “mechanic’s shop” to have sex. The abuse continued until 2008 when the minor and siblings were taken into protective custody during the federal investigation of Tony Alamo.

Eldridge says Christopher went into hiding in Valparaiso after authorities raiding Alamo’s Fouke, Ark., compound in 2009.

Christopher was originally charged in a five-count indictment on Jan. 16.

 

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