Category: Amish

Sex ‘counseling’ info allowed at trial of Amish cult leader

Samuel Mullet Federal prosecutors will be allowed to question witnesses about Amish leader Sam Mullet’s sexual activities when the hate-crime trial of Mullet and 15 followers begins next week, a federal judge ruled Monday.

The judge forbid prosecutors from describing his group with words such cult, sect, clan, band, schism, faction, off-shoot, breakaway, renegade, rogue or splinter group. Witnesses, however, can use any terms they choose.

Prosecutors say jury should hear Amish leader’s sexual activities with his followers

Samuel Mullet Jurors should be allowed to hear about alleged sexual “counseling” of Amish wives by a man charged with masterminding beard- and hair-cutting attacks on fellow Amish in Ohio, prosecutors told a federal judge Friday.

Former members of the group say Sam Mullet has been “counseling” married women in his clan, taking them into his home “so that he may cleanse them of the devil with acts of sexual intimacy.”

Amish charged in hair-cutting attacks seek to avoid oaths, cult label

Bergholz Clan Members of a fringe Amish group charged with committing hate crimes against fellow Amish have requested words including “cult,” “splinter” and “rogue” be banned from their upcoming trial in U.S. District Court.

They also requested that any Amish called to testify “affirm the truthfulness” of their testimony rather than swear an oath.

Renegade Amish sect members reject beard-cutting plea deals

Bergholz Clan Sixteen people charged in beard- and hair-cutting attacks on fellow Amish in Ohio rejected government plea bargain offers of leniency Monday and will go to trial.

The U.S. Justice Department says it plans to introduce evidence at the trial of Amish sect leader Sam Mullet to prove he had total authority over his Ohio community, including disciplining its members with beatings and having sex with other men’s wives to “counsel” them.

Charges against leader of renegade Amish beard cutting group defended

Sam Mullet The U.S. Justice Department says it plans to introduce evidence at the trial of Amish sect leader Sam Mullet to prove he had total authority over his Ohio community, including disciplining its members with beatings and having sex with other men’s wives to “counsel” them.

Mullet and several of his family members and other followers are awaiting trial on a Federal hate crimes indictment for a series of beard- and hair cutting attacks against Amish men and women.