MILLERSBURG -- Four arrested, one released and two more now sought. The investigation continues in last week's assault of an Amish bishop whose beard was cut in retaliation for his role in overruling the decision of another church leader.
Arrested Friday, but released after it appeared he was not directly involved in the incident, was Lester F. Miller, 37, of 1632 County Road 58, Bergholz, according to Holmes County Sheriff Timothy W. Zimmerly.
Still in custody, with bond set at $250,000 cash or surety, are Lester S. Mullet, 26, of 522 Bush Creek Township Road 54, Hammondsville; Johnny S. Mullet, 38, of 362 Springfield Road 280, Bergholz; and Levi F. Miller, 53, County Road 53, Bergholz. Both Mullets are the sons of Sam Mullet, the apparent head of their church. Sam Mullet, while leading an Amish church group in Fredericktown, shunned two families and cast them out of the church. The families disagreed with his decision, prompting the formation of a committee of bishops from across the state who reviewed the decision made by Mullet, according to Zimmerly, who notes the bishops disagreed with Mullet's decision to shun the families.
The arrest warrants, signed by Holmes County Municipal Court Judge Jane Irving, charge each of the men with aggravated burglary and kidnapping. Both charges carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
As to Levi Miller, Zimmerly said, "There was a misunderstanding on his identity on the part of the (hired) driver of the vehicle." Although Levi Miller admitted to traveling to Holmes County and was among the 24 men who rode in a livestock trailer, he did not enter the residence.
The three who remain in custody are expected to appear today in a Jefferson County court on the matter of extradition to Holmes County, Zimmerly said.
During Friday night interrogations at the Jefferson County Jail, "they pretty much admitted to everything," said Zimmerly, noting they removed the victim's beard "to humiliate him."
The three men, plus two others, reportedly knocked on the door of an Amish home along Saltcreek Township Road 606, just north of Mount Hope, around 9 p.m., according to Zimmerly, who said, they told the resident they were there "to discuss church business with him and his father."
The visitors waited outside while the man got dressed, and they accompanied him to a nearby house where his father lived, said Zimmerly, noting they all entered the residence, sat down and engaged briefly in idle chit-chat until one of the men stood up and announced, "We're here for Sam Mullet, in retaliation for the church shunning them."
The intruders pushed and shoved both men, as well as another man, who descended from an upstairs living area, and used scissors and hair clippers to remove the elder man's beard and a portion of his hair.
In addition to the five men who entered the home, an additional 24 men, also believed to be followers of Mullet, were waiting in a horse trailer attached to the pickup truck, Zimmerly said.
Similar incidents involving hair removal as a form of retaliation among members of the community have taken place in Jefferson, Trumbull and Carroll counties. The Carroll County incident, which occurred only hours after the group left Holmes County, is the only other one in which a formal incident report was filed with law enforcement, Jefferson County Sheriff Fred Abdalla said.
Despite rumors and reports a 13-year-old girl had her hair cut and may have been raped, Zimmerly said, both claims are false. The girl was in the main house when the visitors arrived, but went to the grandfather "dawdy" house after hearing a commotion.
When she entered the home, "they grabbed her, threw her across the room and into a chair," said Zimmerly, noting the brief physical contact was the extend of the assault on the teen.
When the local news had the story I had to rewind the DVR to make sure I heard them right. Its not just the men though. They're shaving the heads of the women too, even little girls. Someone's gonna kick in the wrong door and end up on the business end of a musket.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-15219225
Where is ETB when you need him, I was told that he speaks fluent Pennslvania Dutch and is half Amish. I would hope that he could enlighten us on the inner workings of the Amish community, considering he spent many summers making homemade cheese in his basement and selling baskets on the side of the road.
Amish, gangstas......cool
The Amish for the most part are good people... One HELL of a lot more dedicated to belief than I am...