KSLA News 12 Shreveport, Louisiana |Judge: 'Polygamy' out as word in Alamo trial
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Associated Press - July 13, 2009 5:14 PM ET
TEXARKANA, Ark. (AP) - A federal judge has ruled that prosecutors can't bring up polygamy during the trial of jailed evangelist Tony Alamo.
U.S. District Judge Harry F. Barnes made the decision Monday afternoon during the first day of Alamo's trial on charges that he took young girls across state lines for sex. Barnes says Alamo's sexual relationships with women who are 18 or older can't be mentioned either.
Barnes says prosecutors can discuss alleged forced fasting Alamo ordered and corporal punishment in his ministry. Barnes also rejected a request by defense lawyers to get mental health records of 3 girls set to testify.
A pool of more than 100 jurors will return Tuesday to Texarkana for questioning by prosecutors and defense lawyers.
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