header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
March 28
1934 - Bouquet Canyon Reservoir, replacement for ill-fated St. Francis Dam & reservoir, begins to fill with water [story]
Bouquet Reservoir


[KHTS] – A lawyer for victims of Tony Alamo, a former evangelist convicted of taking underage girls across state lines for the purpose of sex, discussed recently how Alamo’s abuse victims could soon receive a portion of the more-than half-billion-dollar judgment against Alamo.

tonyalamoarrestAlamo, who’s known in the federal prison system as Bernie Lazar Hoffman, is 79 years old, and approximately four years into a 175-year prison sentence.

His prison term was the end result a 2008 arrest warrant federal agents executed on several properties reportedly controlled by Alamo’s ministries — including a Santa Clarita Valley lot in Saugus — which are at the heart of a recent court dispute.

“We’ve been litigating the children’s victims claims against Alamo and his related business for about four and a half years,” saidW. David Carter, a Texarkana lawyer with Mercy Carter Tidwell, in a Friday interview.

Carter represents seven victims who were awarded a $525 million settlement in February.

Carter suggested Alamo’s church officials were passing around property deeds to make it harder to collect the court-ordered awards.

“We expect that Twenty First Century is trying to convey the property to other entities — they passed titles around in their group,” he said. “We’ve been able to reach about 25 properties that were held in the name of members.”

alamo_khtsThere are dozens of properties in the church’s name and through the Alamo controlledTwenty First Century Holiness Tabernacle Church, Carter said, but very little of the damages awarded to Alamo’s victims have been paid.

In 2011, two men were awarded $30 million in damages after Alamo ordered them beaten at one of his compounds; in that case, Alamo’s followers declined to attend a May 1 court hearing.

Douglas Brubach, who claimed to own house in Fouke ordered sold, sent a letter to the presiding federal judge to explain why he wouldn’t appear in court, according to a Dallas Fort-Worth NBC affiliate report:

“I do not intend to be on hand for more of the same on the April 30, 2014, hearing,” Brubach’s letter states. “It appears to me our entire congregation has been tried and convicted with Pastor Alamo because we don’t believe he is guilty of all the abominable acts he has been accused of.”

A jury convicted Alamo of taking wives as young as 8 years old, as well as having people beaten and sexually abused at his command.

Alamo’s criminal history has cast doubt on claims Alamo’s made about his property, Carter said.

His two lots in the Santa Clarita Valley — his church site on Sierra Highway, a couple miles north of Rowher Canyon Road, and a 90-acre lot a little more than a mile north of Sand Canyon off Sierra Highway — reportedly could be worth billions, due to a valuable claim of water rights under the land.

The problem is, Carter said, Alamo made the claim in an email to one of his followers, to whom he also claimed his wife would resurrect from the dead.

Alamo reportedly hired some hydrogeology services to evaluate the property, and at one point, proposed to spend $17 million to drill wells, Carter said.

The general manager for the Castaic Lake Water Agency, the region’s state water wholesaler, questions the possibility of such a claim due to a number of factors.

“It’s my opinion that they wouldn’t be able to develop the water supply for export out of the (Santa Clarita Valley),” said Dan Masnada, general manager for the Castaic Lake Water Agency. “That water has already accounted for in the Santa Clarita Valley Urban Water Management Plan.”

In addition to a possible threat litigation threat, there are infrastructure issues making the movement of an amount of water to justify such value “nonsensical,” Masnada said.

“I’ll be the first to tell you Tony Alamo made statements or claims that turned out to be somewhat untrue,” Carter said. “The unresolved question is whether the water supply actually exists.”

The next sale of properties is expected to take place June 12, when the compound Alamo operated in Fouke, Arkansas, goes up for sale.

“That’s where he operated primarily from after his release in 1999 and before the raid in 2008,” Carter said, noting that was where most of the abuse took place.

It could act as a litmus test for how the property sales throughout the country are handled. Carter plans to be able to use the judgment against Alamo as a bid in the sale of the land.

Yet questions on the value remain of several plots remain.

“We’re not sure what access we’re going to have to the property before it’s sold — ideally we’d have the answer to the question (of water rights) before the public sale,” Carter said. “it will probably take a little time.”

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

14 Comments

  1. Ryan Connor Ryan Connor says:

    Michelle Lombardoz Beardsley this is the guy who has that church on the way to my house i told you about

  2. Ryan Connor Ryan Connor says:

    Michelle Lombardoz Beardsley this is the guy who has that church on the way to my house i told you about

  3. This dirtbag is still alive.

  4. This dirtbag is still alive.

  5. Ryan Connor Ryan Connor says:

    he ran a big camp and married yunderage girls

  6. Ryan Connor Ryan Connor says:

    he ran a big camp and married yunderage girls

  7. I still love finding his church’s literature around, blowing in the wind.

  8. That place on Sierra Hwy is creepy. Why do they need armed guards?

  9. John Gilbert John Gilbert says:

    I remember when they set up shop up on Sierra Hwy and people had to be abducted from the Tony & Susan Alamo Foundation and deprogrammed. He and Susan took peoples property and bought businesses, using their disciple’s as slave labor to amass wealth. Can’t believe this con artist didn’t end up in the Graybar Motel back then.

  10. Michelle Lea Michelle Lea says:

    The place on Sierra Hwy is creepy. I heard that big mansion on Sierra Hwy by the Paintball use to be his also but lost it to unpaid taxes. His people are creepy. I heard he has security so no one can leave the premises. He also owns the tan homes next and behind the Halfway House restraunt in Sierra Hwy. He is a sicko sicko

  11. Alicia Ellen Alicia Ellen says:

    Really Michelle creepy is rite

  12. Hes a creep and a perv i feel sorry for the kids whos are tricked into believin in him sadly enough i went to skool with a kid who there he got punished for not agreeing with him

Leave a Comment


SCV NewsBreak
LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES
Thursday, Mar 28, 2024
April 16: FYI Seeks Volunteers To Pair With Local Foster Youth
Local nonprofit Fostering Youth Independence is seeking “Allies” to support Santa Clarita youth who are aging out of the L.A. County foster care system.
Thursday, Mar 28, 2024
California Announces $25 Million in Awards for Youth Mental Health
To support the mental health of California's young people, the California Department of Public Health awarded $25 million to 28 tribal and community-based organizations across the state.
Wednesday, Mar 27, 2024
California Launches New Youth Suicide Prevention Campaign
The California Department of Public Health launched the “Never a Bother” campaign, a youth suicide prevention public awareness and outreach campaign for youth, young adults, and their parents, caregivers, and allies.
Keep Up With Our Facebook

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
Los Angeles County Public Works is updating the Los Angeles County Bicycle Master Plan.
April 16:  County Bicycle Master Plan Virtual Community Meeting
College of the Canyons mens golf got back on track during its return to conference play on Monday, carding a five-man score of 370 to top the eight-team field at Brookside Golf Course and maintain its unblemished conference mark.
Cougars Win Again, Keep Conference Streak
Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector, reminds property owners that the second installment of the 2023-24 Annual Secured Property Taxes becomes  delinquent if not received by 5 p.m. Pacific Time or United States Postal Service postmarked on or before Wednesday, April 10, 2024.
County Treasurer Reminds Property Owners of April 10 Due Date
Local nonprofit Fostering Youth Independence is seeking “Allies” to support Santa Clarita youth who are aging out of the L.A. County foster care system.
April 16: FYI Seeks Volunteers To Pair With Local Foster Youth
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health today unveiled the latest L.A. County Health Survey, which gathers vital data on health behaviors, conditions, neighborhood settings, and the needs of L.A .County residents, informing future public health policies and programs.
Public Health Unveils the 2023 L.A. County Health Survey Findings
Due to the projected rain forecast, Eggstravaganza will now be held indoors at the Canyon Country Community Center beginning promptly at 10 a.m. on March 30.
March 30: Eggstravaganza Now Being Held Indoors at Canyon Country Community Center
To support the mental health of California's young people, the California Department of Public Health awarded $25 million to 28 tribal and community-based organizations across the state.
California Announces $25 Million in Awards for Youth Mental Health
The College of the Canyons Athletic Department will host a dedication ceremony to unveil the Michele Jenkins Softball Team Room in honor of the longtime board member and ardent softball program supporter’s nearly 40 years of service to the district.
April 16: COC to Host Michele Jenkins Team Room Dedication Ceremony
PFLAG Santa Clarita has announced the establishment of the Peggy and Jeff Stabile PFLAG SCV Scholarship. The scholarship will provide financial assistance to LGBTQIA+ students pursuing higher education and committed to advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights and promoting diversity and inclusion.
PFLAG SCV Announces Stabile PFLAG Scholarship
1934 - Bouquet Canyon Reservoir, replacement for ill-fated St. Francis Dam & reservoir, begins to fill with water [story]
Bouquet Reservoir
The California Department of Public Health launched the “Never a Bother” campaign, a youth suicide prevention public awareness and outreach campaign for youth, young adults, and their parents, caregivers, and allies.
California Launches New Youth Suicide Prevention Campaign
The Santa Clarita Master Chorale invites the community to "Let the Sunshine In," a delightful evening of food, wine and song at the annual Cabaret & Cabernet fundraising benefit.
April 20: Santa Clarita Master Chorale’s Cabaret, Cabernet Fundraiser
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health cautions residents who are planning to visit the below Los Angeles County beaches to avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean waters:
March 27 Ocean Water Warning
As an integral ingredient necessary to help the Santa Clarita Valley to flourish, feedback from the business community is the secret sauce for achieving great things.
SCVEDC Asks For the Business Community’s Opinion on Santa Clarita
Raise your heart rate while raising funds for the Santa Clarita Sister Cities Dollars-for-Desks campaign to provide school desks for students in Sariaya, Santa Clarita's Sister City in the Philippines.
April 13: Sister Cities Zumba-thon Fundraiser
Remo, Inc. is is the world's leading manufacturer and developer of synthetic drumheads and shells. They’ve been in business for 60 years
SCVEDC Company Spotlight: Drumming Up Big Business with Remo, Inc.
California State Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo (D-Chatsworth) and Assemblyman James Ramos (D-Highland) have introduced AB 3074 the "School or athletic team names: California Racial Mascots Act."
Schiavo Introduces Bill to Prohibit ‘Derogatory’ School Mascot Names
Los Angeles County’s Justice, Care and Opportunities Department  in collaboration with Local Initiatives Support Corporation Los Angeles is proud to announce the 2nd Annual Pitch Competition for the cohorts of JCOD's Incubation Academy.
March 28: JCOD Incubation Academy Helps Grassroots Non-Profits For the Second Year
Children’s Bureau is seeking foster families and now offers two virtual ways for individuals and/or couples to learn how to help children in foster care while reunifying with birth families or how to provide legal permanency by adoption.
April 18: Children’s Bureau Hosts Virtual Orientation
The Sunburst track was constructed in 1887 by the Southern Pacific Railroad and was a part of the main line running between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Enjoy Spring With a Ride On The Sunburst Track
California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond hosted a Personal Finance Summit today where he announced his support for Assembly Bill 2927 (McCarty), legislation that would require a personal finance education course for California high school graduation.
State Superintendent Announces Support for Personal Finance Graduation Requirement
1847 - Probable birth date of Pico Canyon oil driller Charles Alexander Mentry [story]
C.A. Mentry
The first Music Jam Session at The MAIN was held on Thursday, Feb. 22 and was a hit. Come out and join in for the next one on Thursday, March 28 7 p.m.-9 p.m.
March 28: The MAIN to Host Musicians’ Jam Session
SCVNews.com