Jim Bakker's Crumbling World

By Richard N. Ostling

The Federal Government dumped a hefty chunk of coal into Jim Bakker's Christmas stocking last week. In a 28-page indictment, the former top man of the scandal-plagued PTL TV ministry was charged with 24 counts of fraud and conspiracy. His wife and co-star Tammy Faye, televangelism's dolled-up super- shopper, escaped by an eyelash, but three associates were also charged: PTL's former No. 2 administrator, Richard Dortch, and Bakker aides David and James Taggart.

Bakker and Dortch could receive lengthy prison terms. They were charged with illegally taking some $4 million in bonuses out of the PTL trough. In addition, says the Government, they vastly oversold lifetime "partnerships" that promised lodging at the Grand Hotel and other accommodations at Bakker's Heritage USA theme park in Fort Mill, S.C. In one variation of the scam, some 9,700 hapless "partners" were offered the right to stay regularly in what turned out to be a single bunkhouse with 48 beds. As for the Taggart brothers, they are said to have helped themselves to $1.1 million from PTL coffers and to have evaded taxes on the money.

The purpose of the conspiracy, says the Government, was simply to "create and continue lavish and extravagant life-styles." Among the places the money went: $3.4 million in bonuses for Jim and Tammy, and $279,000 to buy silence from Jessica Hahn, with whom Jim had dallied one fateful day in a Florida hotel. The grand jury spent 16 months investigating the scandal and detailed 42 misdeeds.

As if the indictments were not enough, Bakker's world crumbled further on two other fronts. In an article appearing in the January Penthouse, John Wesley Fletcher, a former Bakker crony, details homosexual encounters with Bakker, claiming that he also procured other young men for the boss. In ongoing bankruptcy proceedings for PTL itself, an exasperated Judge Rufus Reynolds has thrown out a $115 million bid from a Toronto firm for the theme park, cable network and other holdings, deciding instead to have an auction this week. If the price is not right, or payment terms are not favorable enough, the judge could sell off the properties separately.

Bakker and friends are expected to plead innocent; their trial may begin by mid-1989. With such seasoned stars and a number of flamboyant lawyers on hand, it should be one of the livelier gospel spectaculars since Jim and Tammy went off the air.

With reporting by Joseph J. Kane/Atlanta