Tony Alamo’s defense team has filed a motion requesting the U.S. Government be prohibited from mentioning polygamy or cult activity during his criminal trial on sex abuse charges.

“The evidence of multiple relationships with numerous females has a propensity to hit a nerve in some jurors and the chance is great the defendant will be the subject of jury retribution,” the motion said.

References to “cult activity” don’t prove Alamo had sex with underage girls while transporting them across state lines as he is accused, the motion argued.

Alamo’s defense also wants the court to forbid references to sexual relationships Alamo has had with adult women.

The defense is asking as well that tapes of Alamo’s conversations on the phone and with visitors while in jail be edited because they contain “irrelevant and inflammatory statements,” the motion said.

Jury selection begins Monday in a federal courtroom in downtown Texarkana.

See tomorrow’s edition of the Gazette for more on this developing story.