12 indicted in Ohio Amish beard-cutting attacks

Jefferson County Sheriff Fred Abdalla, left, looks on as Lester Mullet, center, and his brother Johnny Mullet, right, review papers while appearing in Jefferson County Common Pleas court during an extradition hearing in Steubenville, Ohio on Oct. 11, 2011. / AP Photo/Steubenville Herald Star-Mark Law

CLEVELAND - Twelve members of a breakaway Amish group have been charged with federal hate crimes in beard-cutting attacks on fellow Amish in eastern Ohio farm country.

The seven-count indictment against Samuel Mullet and 11 relatives or members of his group was announced Tuesday in Cleveland by federal prosecutors. The charges include conspiracy, assault and evidence tampering in what prosecutors say were hate crimes motivated by religious differences.

Pictures: Inside Amish life

The five attacks between September and November involved cutting women's hair and men's beards and hair. That's considered deeply offensive in Amish culture.

Amish men charged in beard-cutting attacks
Men in Amish beard-cutting attacks to be held in jail without bail

Mullet, three of his sons and three others were arrested Nov. 23. Mullet's daughter, two nephews and the spouses of a nephew and a niece also are charged in the indictment.

Mullet says he didn't order the hair-cutting but didn't stop his sons and others from carrying it out.

[diamruby]

Please stop spending our tax dollars on these nuts. If you do not want to live in the modern world of America go back & live in the dark ages that you came from. Most people come to America to be free of the stupid, abusive, backward life that their countries live in, why come here if you love the way of life in your birth country? Become a productive part of the USA.

[Farver4girls]

I think you are a bigot, Diamruby.

[doctor_know]

Those guys are gonna have a hard time in prison....

[TrickyWV]

Lester will wind up being somebody's boyfriend