Arkansas

FOUKE, Ark. — Residents of Fouke are waiting to find out what will happen to the Tony Alamo Christian Ministries compound following a raid of the complex and the arrest of its leader.

Some residents said they don’t know why it took so long for authorities to act against Alamo’s group.

Ryan Lessard has long taken issue with Alamo’s message that young girls are ready to marry when they reach puberty. Former members of Alamo’s group have alleged there were underage marriages and beatings at the compound.

Lessard had painted his van with an anti-Alamo message and parked it in the middle of the town of 800 residents.

Alamo, 74, was arrested Thursday in Arizona and is to be returned to Arkansas to face a charge of transporting minors across state lines for sexual purposes.

Barbershop owner Wayne Lynn said he wants to know more about the case before he forms an opinion.

He said people should not be judged by their religion, but if young girls were molested in the Alamo compound, Lynn said nothing is too harsh for them.

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