8/31/12 Local man testifies in Bergholz Amish trial

                        
SUMMARY: Defense calls beard cutting result of family feud A Holmes County man was among witnesses who testified in the first week of the hate crimes trial of Bergholz bishop Sam Mullet and 15 members of his church. Mullet, 66, and 15 men and women from his settlement in Bergholz face hate crime and conspiracy charges in federal court. The jury trial started Monday Aug. 27 in the Cleveland courtroom of judge Dan A. Polster and is expected to run two weeks. Testimony Wednesday in Court by Andy Hershberger detailed how several members of the Berholz Amish cut off his father’s beard Oct. 4, 2011. Andy Hershberger testified that his father, Raymond Hershberger, an Amish bishop, was held while his beard was cut off. According to testimony, the members of the Bergholz Amish entered the residence peacefully. Then, Johnny Mullet, son of Sam Mullet, said he was there “to do what you did to our people”, according to Andy Hershberger’s testimony. Raymond Hershberger was held while his beard was cut off, and members of the Hershberger family were allegedly restrained by the Bergholz Amish as the beard cutting took place. Andy Hershberger said his father felt shamed after the attack and refrained from his duties as a bishop in church services until his beard grew back. Prosecutors brought the federal charges last year after the Holmes County Sheriff’s office brought charges against five individuals who allegedly participated in the Oct. 4 attack. The Holmes County charges were dropped in favor of the federal prosecution. Defense attorneys representing the 16 co-defendants have said the beard and hair cuttings are the result of a family feud, with the defendants acting out of “concern” and “compassion”. The defendants were alarmed by what they saw as family members falling away from the Amish faith, the defense has said. Prosecutors claim the beard cuttings are the result of Sam Mullet’s alleged cult-like control over the Bergholz Amish. They claim Sam Mullet ordered the beard cuttings and that the alleged attacks were carried out with the purpose of religiously degrading the victims. Prosecutors Thursday placed a Bergholz Amish woman on the stand who testified that Sam Mullet forced her to have sex with him, although she was not his spouse. Prosecutors said the woman’s testimony shows the alleged power Sam Mullet has over his followers. The trial is for charges brought against all of the codefendants. Media reports indicate the codefendants have all appeared in the courtroom throughout the trial wearing traditional Amish clothing. The charges stem from four beard-cutting attacks that took place Sept. 6 through Nov. 9. According to federal court records, the attacks were carried out in retaliation for perceived disobedience or disrespect of Sam Mullet’s authority. The hate crimes charges carry up to 20 years in prison.


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