Texarkana, Arkansas - A federal judge has refused prosecutors' request to make evangelist Tony Alamo pay his $2.5 million in restitution before his appeal is decided.
In an order issued Monday, U.S. District Judge Harry Barnes refused to reconsider the stay he granted Alamo, who plans to appeal his conviction and 175-year prison sentence for taking five underage girls across state lines for sex.
Prosecutors had argued that restitution could be held by the federal court's registry while the appeal is pending.
Last month, Barnes ruled that Alamo must pay $500,000 to each of the five victims in the case. Alamo was also fined $250,000.
