Amish Sect Leader Challenges U.S. in New Appeal in Beard-cutting Case
March 31, 2014
Convicted Ohio Amish sect leader Sam Mullet has challenged his 15-year prison sentence for orchestrating a series of beard-chopping attacks on other Amish, saying the federal hate crimes law that put him behind bars violates the U.S. Constitution and was improperly applied in his case.
The Justice Department used the 2009 Hate Crimes Prevention Act to convict Mr. Mullet and 15 followers of hacking off the beards and hair of fellow Amish in a series of 2011 attacks meant to humiliate them for straying from the faith.
In a new appeal filed Monday before the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, Mr. Mullet and his lawyers accuse the federal government of overreaching to make their case.
Read More
« Back to News
