Amish sexting case catches Ind. man soliciting underage girl, cops say

By: Barry Leibowitz
Topics: Daily Blotter

Willard Yoder

/ Franklin County Sheriff's Dept./WKRC

(CBS/WKRC) CONNERSVILLE, Ind. - A 21-year-old Amish man from Indiana is accused of sending 600 texts, nude pictures and videos to a 12-year-old girl, soliciting her for sex, according to CBS affiliate WKRC.

An Amish man...with a cellphone...soliciting an underage girl for sex.

Could this be the Anthony Weiner ripple effect?

Police say 21-year-old Willard Yoder, of Milroy, Ind., intended to have sex with the girl in his horse-drawn buggy. Yoder told them the sexting began when he sent out a random text and got a response, reported WKRC.

The girl's mother discovered that text and went to police, who then set up a sting at a Connersville, Indiana restaurant. When Yoder arrived to meet the girl - yes, in his horse-drawn buggy - police had set up a sting. He was arrested on four counts of soliciting a minor, police said.

Investigators said Yoder later confessed to sending the texts. He was released on bond, and is to appear in court in September.

Even though the Amish typically shun modern technology, Milroy residents said they are used to seeing Amish people with cellphones.

Although perhaps not Amish people with cellphones, sexting.

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by agnesdeo June 23, 2011 3:51 PM EDT: Amish, I hear that they do it religiously. :?); Reply to this comment


by agnesdeo June 23, 2011 3:51 PM EDT: Amish, I hear that they do it religiously. :?); Reply to this comment


by djseavy June 23, 2011 11:07 AM EDT: Unfortunately, young girls know that they won't be prosecuted for being involved. Instead, they are branded "victims." They know perfectly well what they're doing (go on facebook or any other social site and you'll see what I mean.) Therapists go nuts over these cases, because the girl will most certainly require years of "healing." What a bunch of bunk. They'll deliberately set up someone then run for cover under the title of victim. It makes me sick, because there are true victims that can't get their day in court because it's jammed with cases like this. At least he was going outside his clan - incest in the Amish community is rampant. I think he wanted something that didn't have his own DNA involved.; Reply to this comment


by rf35 June 22, 2011 5:05 PM EDT: I didn't realize that cell phones were allowed by the Amish. Do they use land line phones in their homes? If so then I guess it makes sense.

I doubt the girl let on that she was a minor. If she did, shame on him. Maybe. Are 12 year olds okay in Amish tradition? I really don't know. Maybe he wasn't doing anything unusual based on his upbringing. I think it more likely the little skank was leading him on, though. Also, how did this get to 600 messages before the mom found out something was wrong. Isn't it a parent's responsibility to keep an eye on who/what their child is texting? I'd consider charging the parents with child abuse or at least neglect.; Reply to this comment


by Valhalla0907 June 22, 2011 2:09 PM EDT: The Mennonite kids in Kentucky used battery operated cell phones, and battery operated jam systems in the back of their horse drawn buggies. The lifestyle choice is nothing like the cliche we see in popular culture. They are not stupid.; Reply to this comment


by wlhoppers June 22, 2011 1:56 PM EDT: I think the 12 year old is just as much to blame as the guy is. She accepted more than 600 sexts from him. She didn't go to her mom about it - her mom discovered the sexts.

And I don't think he did know he was trying to hook up with a 12-year old. I really, really don't like what he did, but I think both he and the girl are equally to blame and I think this was entrapment.

I do not in any way support what he did but I don't think he's the only guilty party here.; Reply to this comment


by Debutopia June 22, 2011 1:25 PM EDT: And now he's won an award: http://debutopia.blogspot.com/2011/06/2011-weenie-awards.html#more; Reply to this comment

by titocordero June 22, 2011 12:14 PM EDT

Ain't that a bit@! An Amish man sexting on a cell phone. Sounds like the beginning of a bar joke. What's next.....HONEST POLITICIANS??!!

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by Henri_Rochard June 22, 2011 12:25 PM EDT: Don't hold your breath waiting for an honest politician.


by credibility2 June 22, 2011 10:28 AM EDT: Interesting that the Amish were believed not to rely on technology and its devices such as this. Perhaps this guy wasn't that devout in upholding the tenets of his faith and sect.; Reply to this comment