Tony Alamo, pastor convicted on sex charges, says he's 'one of the prophets

Tony Alamo, a one-time street preacher who built a multimillion-dollar ministry and became an outfitter of the stars, was convicted Friday of taking girls as young as 9 across state lines for sex.
Danny Johnston/The Associated Press archiveTony Alamo plans to appeal,

Tony Alamo

Alamo stood silently as the verdict was read, a contrast to his occasional mutterings during testimony. His five victims sat looking forward in the gallery. One, a woman he "married" at age 8, wiped away a tear.

Tony Alamo photo

I'm just another one of the prophets that went to jail for the Gospel," Alamo called to reporters afterward as he was escorted to a waiting U.S. marshal's vehicle.

Tony Alamo

Shouts of "Bye, bye, Bernie" -- Alamo was born Bernie Lazar Hoffman -- came from a crowd gathered on the Arkansas side of the courthouse. Some came from Fouke, the nearby town where Alamo's 15-acre compound sits. Others were former followers of his ministries in Arkansas, California and New York.

Tony Alamo jacket

Jury foreman Frank Oller of Texarkana, jurors deliberated more than a day only to ensure they considered everything. The testimony convinced them the 74-year-old evangelist kept the girls as sexual partners, not office workers as his defense team claimed.

Tony Alamo wallpaper

"That was the evidence. That was proven,