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| Samuel Mullet and Amish beard-cutters jailed in Ohio | Samuel Mullet and Amish beard-cutters jailed in Ohio |
| (4 days later) | |
| An Ohio Amish sect leader has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for directing hair- and beard-cutting attacks on Amish people in 2011. | An Ohio Amish sect leader has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for directing hair- and beard-cutting attacks on Amish people in 2011. |
| Fifteen of Samuel Mullet's followers were also given prison sentences ranging from one to seven years. | Fifteen of Samuel Mullet's followers were also given prison sentences ranging from one to seven years. |
| They were convicted of hate crime after prosecutors argued the five attacks were motivated by religious disputes. | They were convicted of hate crime after prosecutors argued the five attacks were motivated by religious disputes. |
| Amish people believe the Bible instructs women not to cut their hair, and men to grow beards once they marry. | Amish people believe the Bible instructs women not to cut their hair, and men to grow beards once they marry. |
| His ankles in chains, Mullet, 67, told Friday's hearing that he had always tried to help people. | His ankles in chains, Mullet, 67, told Friday's hearing that he had always tried to help people. |
| 'Terrorised' | 'Terrorised' |
| "That's been my goal all my life," he told the hushed courtroom. | "That's been my goal all my life," he told the hushed courtroom. |
| But Judge Dan Aaron Polster was not convinced. | But Judge Dan Aaron Polster was not convinced. |
| "The victims were terrorised and traumatised," he told the court. He said Mullet's victims had their constitutional rights to religious freedom violated. | "The victims were terrorised and traumatised," he told the court. He said Mullet's victims had their constitutional rights to religious freedom violated. |
| The judge said the defendants had two weeks to file appeals against their sentences or convictions. Defence lawyers suggested they would take that action. | The judge said the defendants had two weeks to file appeals against their sentences or convictions. Defence lawyers suggested they would take that action. |
| Meanwhile other defendants, some in tears, said they should take some of the blame - and punishment - from Mullet and their spouses. | Meanwhile other defendants, some in tears, said they should take some of the blame - and punishment - from Mullet and their spouses. |
| Freeman Burkholder, 32, apologised to the judge, saying, "I won't do it again." | Freeman Burkholder, 32, apologised to the judge, saying, "I won't do it again." |
| Anna Miller, 33, who is a mother of six also said: "I'm sorry, it won't happen again." She and many of the other women received one-year sentences. | |
| Mullet has been accused of running a cult and exercising absolute control over the breakaway Amish settlement he founded two decades ago. | Mullet has been accused of running a cult and exercising absolute control over the breakaway Amish settlement he founded two decades ago. |
| He allegedly punished male members by making them sleep in chicken coops. Mullet also practised sexual "counselling" for married women in his community, according to court documents. | He allegedly punished male members by making them sleep in chicken coops. Mullet also practised sexual "counselling" for married women in his community, according to court documents. |
| During the trial, victims of the attacks testified they were restrained and had their hair forcibly cut using scissors, clippers, shears and battery-operated razors. | During the trial, victims of the attacks testified they were restrained and had their hair forcibly cut using scissors, clippers, shears and battery-operated razors. |
| Defence lawyers argued the attacks were a result of personal disputes in the Amish community in Bergholz, Ohio. | Defence lawyers argued the attacks were a result of personal disputes in the Amish community in Bergholz, Ohio. |
| They appealed for leniency, citing the hardship the small community had faced without some of the men during the winter. | They appealed for leniency, citing the hardship the small community had faced without some of the men during the winter. |
| Prosecutors recommended lighter sentences for Mullet's followers and suggested that family members serve at different times in order to care for the defendants' 50 children. | Prosecutors recommended lighter sentences for Mullet's followers and suggested that family members serve at different times in order to care for the defendants' 50 children. |
| But Prosecutor Bridget Brennan urged the judge to punish Mullet adequately. | But Prosecutor Bridget Brennan urged the judge to punish Mullet adequately. |
| "He is a danger to this community. He is capable of controlling 15 defendants," she said. | "He is a danger to this community. He is capable of controlling 15 defendants," she said. |
| Mullet was not accused of participating in the hair-cutting attacks, but prosecutors said he encouraged the other defendants - six women and nine men, including four of his sons - to carry them out. | Mullet was not accused of participating in the hair-cutting attacks, but prosecutors said he encouraged the other defendants - six women and nine men, including four of his sons - to carry them out. |
| "There is no doubt that Mullet wanted, agreed with and encouraged all of these attacks," prosecutors said in a court filing. | "There is no doubt that Mullet wanted, agreed with and encouraged all of these attacks," prosecutors said in a court filing. |