7/30/12 Bergholz Amish reject plea deals, case headed for trial

  • July 30, 2012
  • 363
                        
SUMMARY: Bishop Samuel Mullet, codefendants will be tried together Individuals charged in four beard cutting attacks will be tried together in federal court on hate crimes and other charges. Samuel Mullet, 66, 385 Township Road 280, Bergholz, Daniel S. Mullet, 37, 8865 County Road 53, Bergholz; Eli M. Miller, 31, 385 Township Road 280, Bergholz; Levi F. Miller, 53, 35 County Road 53, Bergholz; Johnny S. Mullet, 38, 362 Township Road 280, Bergholz; Lester S. Mullet, 26, 522 Township Road 54, Hammondsville, Emanuel Shrock, Lester Miller, Raymond Miller, Freeman Burkholder, Anna Miller, Lovina Miller, Kathryn Miller, Emma Miller, Elizabeth Miller and Linda Shrock, will be tried as a group Aug. 27 in the Youngstown courtroom of federal judge Dan A. Polster after the 16 codefendants rejected plea agreements Monday July 30. Court records do not give addresses and ages for several of the codefendants. The co-defendants are members of the so-called Bergholz Amish, a sect that prosecutors allege carried out four beard-cutting attacks Sept. 6 - Nov. 9, 2011. In the attacks, a total of nine individuals were allegedly assaulted, with at least four having their hair or beards cut. On-line federal court records indicate that plea offers were made by prosecutors at a July 30 hearing. The offers were refused. The plea offers were read in open court, but online records do not state the conditions offered in exchange for the codefendant’s guilty pleas. All 16 codefendants stand on their previous not guilty pleas, according to court records. Prosecutors have brought charges of conspiracy and hate crimes against the codefendants, who are said to have carried out the attacks under the orders of Samuel Mullet. Mullet is described as the leader of the Bergholz Amish, and allegedly has complete control over the lives of the approximately 70 - 80 persons in his church. The codefendants are all currently in custody of federal marshals. Raymond Miller and Lester Miller were previously granted privileges to work in Pennsylvania and West Virginia by the court. Lester Miller allegedly participated in attacks Sept. 6 and Oct. 4. The Oct. 4 attack involved cutting a Holmes County family, in which an Amish bishop’s beard was cut and his wife and other family members were assaulted. Lester Miller allegedly purchased the 8-inch shears used in the Oct. 4 attack. Raymond Miller was allegedly part of the group that carried out the Sept. 6 attack. The beard-cutting attacks were allegedly carried out on Amish outside Samuel Mullet’s church in retaliation for perceived defiance of Mullet’s authority. The charges carry up to 20 years in prison.


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