American Scene

ARKANSAS

Seizure of kids at compound upheld

LITTLE ROCK | The Arkansas Court of Appeals has ruled that state child-welfare officials properly seized children from the Tony Alamo Christian Ministries after a police raid.

The appeals court issued three opinions Wednesday dealing with the children taken by welfare officials after a September 2008 raid at Alamo’s compound.

In one ruling, Judge Robert J. Gladwin wrote that testimony at closed hearings about the seizures showed “a clear picture of danger to the children in the ministry compound at Fouke.”

Judge Gladwin added that judges had “no hesitation” in affirming a lower court’s decision to allow the seizures.

Alamo was sentenced to 175 years in federal prison last week after being convicted of taking young girls across state lines for sex.

CALIFORNIA

Marines, corpsman kicked out of military

SAN DIEGO | Three Camp Pendleton Marines and a Navy corpsman convicted of aiding the kidnapping and killing of an Iraqi man in 2006 have been ordered removed from the military.

Navy Secretary Ray Mabus told the North County Times on Tuesday that the killing in the city of Hamdania did not happen in the fog of battle but was a carefully planned attack and coverup.

Marine Lance Cpls. Tyler Jackson, Jerry Shumate and John Jodka III and Navy Corpsman Melson Bacos were ordered removed. They had been allowed to stay on active duty after serving short jail terms for lesser offenses.

Marine Sgt. Lawrence G. Hutchins III is serving an 11-year prison term for murder.

COLORADO

Haggard to continue prayer meetings

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