Albuquerque Journal from Albuquerque, New Mexico • Page 3

ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL Friday, October 6, 1989 A3 Bakker Proclaims Innocence House OKs $7.2 Billion For Day Care 4 1 i :) 1 'U CONTINUED FROM PAGE A1 Pat Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network after a falling out. But in January 1974 he found a new home in Charlotte. Over the next 13 years Bakker built a TV ministry with a payroll of more than 2,000 and annual income exceeding $100 million. But Bakker found obstacles to overcome mounting debts that pushed his ministry to the brink of bankruptcy, critical coverage from the Charlotte news media and, from 1979 to 1982, a wide-ranging investigation of alleged fraudulent fund raising conducted by the Federal Communications Commission. The FCC ended its inquiry in December 1982 when PTL agreed to give its only TV station to another religious organization, thus ending FCC jurisdiction over PTL.

During their closed inquiry, though, FCC investigators had found compelling evidence Bakker repeatedly misled viewers he raised about $300,000 for interna tional Christian television broadcasts but spent the money on bills at his new Heritage USA retreat at Fort Mill, S.C., south of Charlotte. It was that pattern of deception that Justice Department prosecutors sought to prove during Bakker's trial, which began Aug. 28. This time the stakes were bigger $158 million in "lifetime partnerships," raised between 1984 and 1987. In return for a gift of typically $1,000, Bakker had promised lifetime partners a free room in a PTL hotel three nights a year for life.

But prosecutors showed jurors that Bakker had issued more than twice as many lifetime partnerships as he had promised. That meant some lifetime partners couldn't use the free lodging, and PTL couldn't attract enough paying customers to pay its operating costs. This spring, Bakker and his New Covenant ministry relocated to Orlando, where Bakker now will await sentencing. CONTINUED FROM PAGE A1 videotape and when he took the stand in his own defense," she said. Potter, in setting sentencing for Bakker, stunned the courtroom with his blunt assessment of the former PTL partners who testified for Bakker.

"They really have what I would call the Jim Jones mentality anything that he does is all right," Potter said, recalling the mass murder-suicide in Jonestown, Guyana, in 1978. Potter made the comments as he considered, but rejected, a prosecution request to imprison Bakker until he is formally sentenced. Potter set secured bond at $250,000, and Bakker was released shortly after 1:30 p.m. MDT. The verdict represents what could be a killing blow to the career of a man with a remarkable ability to rise from the ashes of defeat.

In 1972, Bakker quit his job with THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Tammy Bakker, wife of fallen PTL leader Jim Bakker, sings "On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand" in front of the federal courthouse in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday. anm HI VIPRV Parking Cemetery Paid public parking mm PUBLIC PARKING MAMfcOABLvo TO 1-25' 1L 1 0y i II I IliOl a a a MT? PUBLIC PARKING PU8UC PARKING I EE'ae WMTTriV Eu 8ALL0ON FIESTA OFFICE WVUJy 8309 WASHINGTON PLACE 1. LJ i U3i RV parking Balloon launch sites E3 Jump zone and target area E3 Concessions Chase crew, charter and tour bus parking 2 VIP and media parking Pl Bus parking 2 Sponsor VIP hospitality tent, PA tower, Media hospitality tent, Headquarters 0 Information booth, Chase crew tent, First aid lost and found care provided by companies improves productivity, absenteeism rates and morale while lowering turnover and recruitment costs. Increase the earned income tax credit for the poor from 14 percent to 17 percent. This could provide as much as $800 more per year to a family with three children.

House approval of the bill follows passage, by the Senate of similar legislation earlier this year and all but guarantees that the proposal will be sent to President Bush. Both the White House and congressional Republicans oppose the bill. The Republicans fiercely object to any federal requirement relating to child care qualify or safety. They also oppose a provision in the House bill that would require church-based programs to be secular in order to receive federal money. White House spokesman Stephen Hart said Thursday that if the bill "is not improved" in a House-Senate conference committee, Bush's senior advisers would recommend he veto it.

Nevertheless, congressional 'Democrats expressed optimism Thursday that Bush would sign it. "I don't think the president who promised 'a kinder and gentler nation' wants to veto child care," said Rep. Patricia Schroeder, a longtime supporter of the legislation. "Besides, he'd be vetoing his precious capital gains tax cut." Schroeder was referring to the fact that the child care measure was part of an overall budget bill approved by the House on a 331-91 vote. In addition to the child care provisions, it includes the tax rate cut on capital gains and a repeal of a controversial 1988 Medicare expansion for catastrophic health care costs.

The full Senate has not yet begun working on its version of the overall spending bill, which must clear Congress by Oct. 16 in order to prevent automatic spending cuts in government programs under the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings budget law. The Senate must also reconcile differences between its version of the bill and that of the House. That was complicated by a confusing situation in the House in which it actually voted on two separate methods of financing the bill. Sullivan Backs Partial Salvage Of Health Plan THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON President Bush's health secretary embraced a new plan Thursday for salvaging parts of catastrophic health coverage.

But the president's budget director said the secretary was not speaking for the administration. The public disagreement between two of Bush's top advisers came as the new plan seemed to be gathering support among senators who are reluctant to repeal catastrophic coverage, as the House voted to do Wednesday. The new plan, drafted by Sen. David Durenberger, would sharply reduce the surtax on higher-income retirees that finances much of catastrophic coverage. It would preserve full coverage of hospital bills, slightly reduce coverage of doctors' bills and repeal drug provisions.

In a letter to Senate leaders, Louis Sullivan, secretary of health and human services, said Durenberger's proposal "incorporates our mutual priorities" and pointed out that it would significantly lower the surtax. Sullivan's statement was interpreted by Durenberger and other senators as an endorsement of the new proposal. Early Birds At Fiesta Await Sun CONTINUED F-ROM PAGE A1 had fallen in the Sangre de Cristos near the Santa Fe Ski Basin. Saturday's weather in Albuquerque should be mostly sunny, with morning lows in the mid-40s and afternoon highs in the mid-70s. Little precipitation is expected for Sunday.

Balloons can fly in rain but pilots prefer not to take their balloons out in cloudy skies or winds over 9 mph, said Ruppenthal. "Right now the landing field is a muddy mess and no one would want to lay their balloons out," said Ruppenthal. Balloon fiesta organizers limited the number of balloons at this year's fiesta to 500, down from 608 last year, She said with the higher number, some balloons would have to wait too long to lift off. Launches are staged in groups or waves. "It makes the last waves very late in the day" when the weather is too warm for flying, said Ruppenthal.

Balloon Fiesta Park is between Paseo del Norte and Alameda. Public access to the park is off Alameda. Park gates open at 5 a.m. Admission is $1 for adults, with children younger than 12 admitted free. Parking, which is not included in admission, is $3 for both preferred and general lots.

To reach Balloon Fiesta Park, drive north on 1-25 to the Alameda exit, then go west on Alameda to the field entrance. Traffic will be westbound only on Alameda between 1-25 and the park entrance on weekend days during the fiesta from 5 to 9 a.m. Alameda between Second Street and the park will be open for two-way traffic during those hours. Sun Tran will offer Park and Ride service both weekends of the fiesta. Tickets are round-trip and include admission to Balloon Fiesta Park.

Sun Tran buses have three departure locations Winrock Shopping Center, Alameda West Shopping Center and Coro-nado Shopping Center. Buses will leave between 5 and 7:30 a.m. Return trips will run between 8:30 and 10:15 a.m. Advance tickets can be used only for Sun Tran buses leaving from Winrock Center and the Alameda West Center. Advance tickets cost from $3 to $5 and are available at Allied Services at Winrock Center and Fox Photo at Corrales Center.

Those without advance tickets must use the Sun Tran stops at Coronado or Alameda West. Tickets at those locations will be from $4 to $6. Saturday's mass ascension is only the beginning in a day of ballooning UJii l1 r-, PASEO DSL NOHTE IL, i 2 2 15 pd. art, centralAve- here cemetery 1 JF CJ I Alameda Paseo I Del NorteXI 1 i The balloon fiesta parade will kick off at 1 p.m. Saturday at Girard and Central NE.

Singer Vikki Carr, parade grand marshal, will lead the procession of bands, floats and decorated chase crew trucks. The parade, sponsored by Sea World of Texas, will include the first Miss Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta 1989. The First International Mariachi Fiesta, again featuring Carr and a range of mariachi bands, begins at 6 p.m. in the There will be a balloon fiesta parade and an evening mariachi festival. The parade kicks off at 1 p.m.

at Girard and Central NE. The procession travels east on Central to Monroe NE, north of Washington. The parade will disband at Highland High School. Side streets access to Central between Girard and Monroe will be closed during the parade. Dukes Stadium.

During the three-hour show, Mexican dancers and horse riders in conquistador dress will perform against a backdrop of tethered balloons in the stadium. The mariachi fiesta, sponsored by KLUZ-TV 41, will benefit "Teach the Children." Tickets are available at ABQ Bank locations, including those in Safeway stores. 111 FBI Unswayed by Claim; DA Reconsiders Soldiers begin crackdown in Panama. Stories on Page E6. East Germany warns of Chinese-style crackdown.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE A1 823-4400 Here are the people to contact and a or irDAr rr tdt the telephone numbers for frequently ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL caed Journal departments: P.O. Drawer Art8 PatReed 823-3939 Albuquerque, NM 87103 city Desk Karen Moses 823-3840 7777 Jefferson NE 87109 Classified Ads 823-4444 Editorial Page Bill Hume 823-3861 SUGGESTED HOME DELIVERY RATE Financial Scott Merville 823-3830 Dally and Sunday $8.50 per month Las Cruces Bureau Bill Diven 526-4461 Sunday only $4.00 per month Photo RayCary 823-3991 The publisher assumes no responsibility for payments Santa Fe Bureau Tim Coder. 988-8881 to carriers for more than the current month. Subscribers state Bruce Daniels 823-3912 desiring to pay for six or twelve months in advance will Sports Mike Hall 823-3908 please mail remittance at their carrier rates direct to the Trends Sieve Hallock 823-3936 circulation department. Washington Bureau Single copy rates: Dally .35 paulWieck (202) 338-2240 Sunday .00 Managng Editor Features Out of town New Out of Frankie McCarty 823-3803 mall rate (823-3160) Mexico State Managing Editor News 1 yr.

Daily Sun. $156 $192 RodDeckert 823-3804 6 mos. Daily Sun. 78 96 for other news Information, or to reach 3 mos. Daily Sun.

39 48 mbara. 1 mos. Daily Sun. 13 16 8taTf memDers. Sun.

only 1 mo 475 6 Newsroom Receptionist 823-3800 Daily only 1 mo. 10.50 12 All mail subscriptions are payable in advance. Foreign If your paper is late country rates available upon request. Second class postage paid in Albuquerque and additional mailing Your home-delivered Journal should otlKes-, lk arrive by 7 a.m. If It Isn't there by that Albuquerque uTO Pubto on Number time, call before 10 a.m.

to: (USPS) (012720) Circulation 823-4400 Westheimer told The Associated Press Thursday that Scarantino's firing had nothing to do with the Sandlin case but said he couldn't comment further because it was a personnel matter. Scarantino said Westheimer had told him he was satisfied with his work and had given no reason for his firing. He also said he has sought the advice of a lawyer but understands he has no legal standing to appeal his firing. Meanwhile, Nelson and Sandlin's family were interviewed Thursday by a director involved in the production of the NBC-TV show, "Unsolved Mysteries." Cindy Bowles, a researcher in the production, said recently that the director was conducting preliminary research into the Sandlin case after someone mailed them a copy of a letter in mid-April. Copies of the letter, which purported to name the individual who killed Sandlin, were mailed several weeks later to the Journal, Sandlin's mother, Eileen, and the Attorney General's Office.

The Attorney General's Office attempted to find out who wrote the letter, after determining it wasn't from the person whose name appeared as the author. tino and Yontz don't give him legal grounds to investigate. "I can't go investigate," he said, "nor would I investigate the Attorney General's Office because somebody says they're not investigating something thoroughly." The Attorney General's Office took over the investigation from the State Police shortly after Sandlin's death. Deputy Attorney General Steve Westheimer has said the investigation was ongoing and that Sandlin's death was an "unexplained shooting." After being told of the allegations by Scarantino and Yontz, Attorney General Hal Stratton said Wednesday that he thought the death was a homicide. Westheimer and Stratton denied allegations that the former prosecutors were driven off the case, or that the office wasn't fully investigating it.

Nelson said his agency has received "excellent cooperation" from the Attorney General's Office and Mountainair Police Chief David Carson. Nelson also said the FBI investigation has been hindered by "sometimes preposterous allegations which have been proved false." The FBI initiated its inquiry "to determine whether Officer Sand-lin's death was caused by anyone acting under color of law (a public official), thus violating his federally protected civil rights," James Nelson, FBI special agent-in-charge, said in a news release Thursday. So far, Nelson said, "We have developed no compelling evidence that there was a murder." However, he said in the statement that the FBI hasn't eliminated the possibility. Nelson said he learned from a news story about allegations by Scarantino and Yontz that investigators in the Attorney General's Office were being prevented from pursuing the investigation fully. Asked whether the FBI intended to contact Scarantino and Yontz about their concerns, Nelson said, "I have no plans to at this time, but again we're evaluating.

All we know is what we see in the newspaper." Nelson said he suspects he knows about the "major lead" in the case Scarantino referred to. "If what Scarantino's talking about is what I believe it is, Scarantino knows we know it," Nelson said, "We are pursuing it and so is the attorney general." He said the allegations by Scaran eral's Office has information indicating marijuana growers conspired to kill Sandlin, who had been involved in the seizure of about $50,000 worth of marijuana two weeks before his death. The two former prosecutors asked the FBI and Deschamps' office to pursue the case, and they called for the Attorney General's Office to formally declare that Sandlin had been murdered. "The allegations of Mr. Scaranti-no and company have caused me some concern," Deschamps said.

He said he wanted to meet with officials of the Attorney General's Office and the FBI before making a decision but said he may be unable to initiate his own probe because of limited staff and money. Sandlin, 21, was found dead on the evening of May 7, 1988, in the Mountainair Police station, where he had been filling out reports. He died of a gunshot wound to the head and his service revolver was found nearby. An autopsy ruled the manner of death was "undetermined." The FBI in Albuquerque launched its own preliminary inquiry into the case in July after the Justice Department in Washington received complaints about the state attorney general's investigation. AD-VISOR 823-4444.