An Amish leader gets 15 years in prison after attacking other Ohio Amish and cutting their beards and hair off. On Feb. 8, The New York Times reported that Samuel Mullet Sr., 67, was sentenced on Friday. An Amish group led by Mullet was convicted last year on "multiple counts of conspiracy and hate crimes."
The leader of a dissident Amish sect and fifteen of his followers were sentenced, their punishments ranging from one year and one day to seven years. Mullet's 15-year sentence was the greatest punishment of all. Prosecutors argued that the bizarre attacks were motivated by religious intolerance, and all involved will face the consequences.
The Amish leader gets 15 years which isn't surprising given the fact that he orchestrated the attacks. Said attacks were very serious, and although no one was physically harmed per say, Mullet instructed his followers to force in to people's homes and shave/cut their hair and beards. Most of the victims were believed to be "descendants of 18th-century German-speaking immigrants."
"Followers of Mr. Mullet broke into homes, restrained men and women, and forcibly sheared their victims, sometimes with tools used to clip horse manes," reports The Times. Evidently, Mullet was motivated by his faith. For whatever reasons, he disagreed with the culture of those who were targeted.
While the Amish leader gets 15 years behind bars, there are believed to be at least 100 other "followers" in his group (or his "cult" as some call it). It is unknown if there are plans for more "hate crimes" orchestrated by a new leader.
© Effie Orfanides 2013
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