Wife of Ohio pastor going to trial accused of witness tampering

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — Federal prosecutors say the wife and stepdaughter of a minister charged with child sex trafficking abducted one of the victims and tried to talk her out of testifying at his trial.

A federal complaint says the two women went to the victim’s apartment in Toledo on Saturday and forced their way in with a gun. Prosecutors say the teen was choked and told to take back statements made to investigators.

Charged with witness tampering are Alisa Haynes, 43, and Alexis Fortune, 24.

Fortune’s attorney declined to comment today, and a message was left with Haynes’ attorney.

Haynes is the wife of Anthony Haynes, one of two former pastors going to trial in two weeks. He has pleaded not guilty to charges accusing him of paying a girl for sex.