Crime

Amish Preacher Details Terrifying, Religiously-Based Haircutting Attack: ‘I Saw the Hair Fly’

CLEVELAND (TheBlaze/AP) — An Amish preacher testified Wednesday that he watched three men cut his father’s hair and beard during an attack last fall that left his father shaking and relatives screaming. TheBlaze first began reporting about the bizarre Amish hair-cutting incidents that took shape back in October 2011.

Andy Hershberger was the first witness in the federal trial of a breakaway Amish group from eastern Ohio accused of hate crimes in hair-cutting attacks on fellow Amish. Prosecutors say Hershberger’s father was among those attacked because he and the leader of the breakaway group had religious differences.

Amish Preacher Andy Hershberger Details Haircutting Attach

Members of the Amish leave the U.S. Federal Courthouse Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012, in Cleveland. A breakaway religious group spent months planning hair-cutting attacks against followers of their Amish faith, U.S. prosecutors said Tuesday as they laid out their case against 16 people charged with hate crimes. Such hair-cuttings are considered deeply offensive in the traditional Amish culture. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Andy Hershberger testified that his father, an Amish bishop, pleaded for the men not to shear him. But he said within minutes, the hair from his father’s beard had been cut and scattered across the floor. He said clumps of hair were missing from his father’s head and his scalp was bleeding.

Beards and hair have great religious importance among the Amish.

Andy Hershberger testified that the men arrived at the house in the evening and said, “We want to talk with you and your dad.” Once inside, one of the defendants, whom he identified as Johnny Mullet (yes, that’s really his last name) — son of accused ringleader Sam Mullet Sr. – stood up and said: “We’re from Bergholz. We’re here to do what you did to our people.”

Hersherger described a chaotic scene, with the men holding him, his father, Raymond, and his brother down while his father was sheared.

“I saw the hair fly,” Andy Hershberger testified. Afterward, he said, his father “was shaking all over.”

“The women and my dad were crying,” he said.

Prosecutors say his father, Raymond Hershberger, was targeted because he was among several bishops who had religious disagreements with Mullet.

Attorneys for the defendants don’t deny that the hair cuttings took place. Instead, they argued that the Amish are bound by different rules guided by their religion and that the government shouldn’t get involved in what amounted to a family or church dispute.

Their attorneys say members of the breakaway group took action out of concern that some Amish were straying from their beliefs.

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Comments (37)

  • LovinUSA
    Posted on August 31, 2012 at 9:55am

    Why didn’t you brutes pick on those hippie freaks from ows who have longer hair and no other meaning for their looks except their lazy, dirty and unpurposeful.

    Report Post » LovinUSA  
  • Government_Goodies
    Posted on August 30, 2012 at 8:15am

    “At 4:30 in the mornin‘ I’m milkin’ cows…
    Jebediah feeds the chickens and Jacob plows…FOOL!”

    Report Post » Government_Goodies  
    • Latter-Day-Soldier
      Posted on August 30, 2012 at 2:19pm

      ‘It’s hard work and sacrifice
      Living in an Amish paradise
      We sell quilts at discount price
      Living in an Amish paradise”

      Report Post » Latter-Day-Soldier  
  • freedomisasfreedomdoes
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 11:41pm

    Wow speechless. I mean these are the Amish! Not exactly the picture of horror or evil. The Amish were attacked? What has this country come to?

    Report Post » freedomisasfreedomdoes  
  • Abraham Young
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 10:52pm

    This is not a federal matter. It’s a local jurisdiction kind of deal. The federal government has no business in State affairs. What have we become?

    Report Post »  
  • KissMyAmericanFlag
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 6:13pm

    Disgraceful! Thugs! This is bhusseino’s amerika. Vote them OOOWH Nov2012!

    Report Post » KissMyAmericanFlag  
  • Metalstr8jckt
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 5:59pm

    Holding a person down against their will is assault.
    What amazes me is that from Burka’s to Beards and every every type of religious trapping, garb or attire used by whatever’ sect is simply to identify their beliefs to others outside the group. Even tattoos can be viewed this way sometimes. I am positive that God is going to judge your actions and your heart. Not the way you appear to mankind in outward appearance. Freedom of religion does not provide carte blanche for assault or murder.

    Report Post » Metalstr8jckt  
  • geomann
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 5:12pm

    I see an arms race coming. What’s next, Nair?

    All joking aside; I bet it was difficult to refrain from beating the tar out of the hair cutting attackers. Amish men are generally large and strong, yet non-violent. Obviously, the attackers don’t fit in well.

    Report Post »  
  • COFemale
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 4:00pm

    Assault is assault whether religion is involved or not. First of all the difference of opinion of the attacking side to those of the victim side is none of their business. If I stray from a religious belief it is no consequence to you, if I do not belong to your sect.

    They are hateful group and have let their beliefs cloud the true intent of their religion. These type of people become zealots, when they believe it is their duty to make you comply.

    Report Post » COFemale  
  • JQCitizen
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 3:29pm

    It was assault, and for that reason the law has to be involved. Surely those of you giving these comments don’t think these acts should be ignored just because the reason for the assault was a religious difference? That would be equivalent to the police refusing to get involved in a marital conflct even though one party ended up with a black eye.

    Report Post »  
  • watersRpeople
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 3:27pm

    Long hair is intended for the Angel that sits on top of your Christmas Tree.

    Report Post »  
    • watersRpeople
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 3:44pm

      By the way Moses going up on top of the mountain to the Lord would be unto a ornament on your Christmas tree going up on top to the Angel of the Christmas Tree, and then coming back down with another ornament (which is engraved into a person or otherwise written as ‘Stone’ the Commandments). Of course It doesn’t matter to alienated minds.

      Report Post »  
    • watersRpeople
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 3:55pm

      I like that phrase: The left-hand doesn’t know what it is doing. Because it truly doesn’t, and there is people on the right who are part of the left.

      Report Post »  
    • watersRpeople
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 3:58pm

      Watch children with autism sometimes or mild autism – their hand usually their left hand will just kind of do it’s own thing.

      Report Post »  
  • watersRpeople
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 3:24pm

    Yes, I know why they have religious differences, because the Bible says to let your hair grow long. Of course it’ speaking to the “Man” spirit over the people, and the hair would be unto streamers, or streams and rivers running down the mountain that flows i and through the people. Kind of like the idea of garland and tinsel flowing down the Christmas Tree. I don’t think it really matters how your hair is.

    Report Post »  
    • watersRpeople
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 3:47pm

      See there’s no point to Graven Images because almost all people do not get anything of value out of them, and the Holy already know so they don’t need images either.

      Report Post »  
    • watersRpeople
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 3:52pm

      So then the Lord God comes along trying to take your graven images away from you by using his Left-Hand – Liberals and Atheists – because they want to do away with graven images but for only the reason to push your buttons which also works out for the benefit of God.

      Report Post »  
    • Exrepublisheep
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 3:59pm

      The Bible talks about certain Jews letting parts of their hair remain uncut. The New Testament (Saul?) saying to keep it short.

      Report Post » Exrepublisheep  
    • watersRpeople
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 4:01pm

      It seems like it would be the way you have your hair is more a matter of taste rather than principal.

      Report Post »  
    • watersRpeople
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 4:29pm

      Saul was the Antichrist I wouldn’t listen to him if I was you. That’s why he had to change his own name to Paul.

      Report Post »  
    • PutMoreOnMyPlate
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 5:06pm

      And that’s where you lost me Waters. Have a blessed day.

      Report Post »  
  • CaptRory
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 3:19pm

    “Attorneys for the defendants don’t deny that the hair cuttings took place. Instead, they argued that the Amish are bound by different rules guided by their religion and that the government shouldn’t get involved in what amounted to a family or church dispute.”

    Does this concern anyone else? What’s next? “Attorneys for the defendants don’t deny he killed his two daughters to uphold the honor of their family. Instead they argued that Islamic Peoples are bound by different rules guided by their religion and that the government shouldn’t get involved in what amounted to a family or church dispute.”

    If the victim doesn’t want it persued, it is one thing. But you can’t argue that some citizens are beyond the reach of law because of religious differences/beliefs/whatever. Things will get a LOT worse. You can’t open that door.

    Report Post » CaptRory  
  • jesusletsmespeed
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 3:09pm

    Hair has religious significance?
    Legalism rules.

    Report Post »  
  • Barbe
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 3:05pm

    I’m shocked by the ignorance of the commentators. Really…it grows back…southern rednecks? It’s no wonder not one of these comments is accompanied by a real name.

    Report Post » Barbe  
  • reallyannoyed
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 2:52pm

    I thought only Mitt Romney and his prep school buddies were into attacks like this.

    Report Post »  
  • LeadNotFollow
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 2:34pm

    …
    Even though beards and hair have great religious importance among the Amish, they should also have sense enough to realize that IT GROWS BACK.

    Why let this setback devastate you? Just move on with your life, and grow it all back.
    Life is full of heartaches, disappointments, injustices, and tragedies. This will just make you stronger.

    Too bad Amish folks don’t have computers, so they could read the comments.

    Report Post »  
    • Sgt_Rock
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 2:48pm

      @Lead…So clarify for me…you think the victim should have just chalked it up to a difference of opinion and let his hair grow back..it sounded like you were ok with this…?

      Report Post » Sgt_Rock  
    • deeberj
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 3:01pm

      If someone held me down and cut my hair, and I am not Amish, it would be simple assault. It really has nothing to do with religion but it has to do with someone assaulting me with scissors. They also held down the other men, which may be unlawful imprisonment.

      I see nothing wrong with the assaulted man and his family taking the others to court.

      Report Post » deeberj  
    • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 3:01pm

      It‘s too bad muslims don’t just cut off your hair.

      Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • floridareader
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 3:08pm

      Lead, you sound like you were one of the attackers.
      Too bad your computer annihilated all your neurons.

      Report Post » floridareader  
    • Exrepublisheep
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 4:01pm

      So if someone were to forcibly remove your clothing in public, it’s no big deal? We all have sex organs…

      Report Post » Exrepublisheep  
    • The Jewish Avenger
      Posted on August 30, 2012 at 9:40am

      So:
      no forcing blacks to pick cotton in a field
      no forcing homosexuals on to a person of the opposite sex
      no forcing a woman to have a baby
      no making a muslim hold a football while eating bacon
      no forcing a hispanic to sing “Cocaracha.”
      no forcing OWS’rs to carry pro-Romney signs.
      no forcing Christians to wear Satanic or pro-homosexual marriage signs.
      but ganging up on a man and shaving him out of their guilty remorse by religious convictions is ok?

      As you can guess, I disagree with your statement
      It’s oppression and just a plain assult. But it was clearly the governments famous hate crime and meet all of the credentials with a few exceptions:
      religious,
      white,
      males
      I’m surprised it actually had this much coverage.

      Of course, if the attackers were gay, it would almost be a gag order to not publicize it.

      Report Post » The Jewish Avenger  
  • v15
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 2:29pm

    The Amish are sporting mullets? Why do they want to look like southern redneck NASCAR fans?

    Report Post » v15  
  • scuba13
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 2:20pm

    Tell me this isn’t the same Mullets that came up with the “mullet” hair cut. No wonder they wanted to cut the guys hair and beard, it was a hair crime.

    Report Post » scuba13  
  • YellowFin
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 2:12pm

    So if I understand, this silly conduct is just a way to insult each other and is a revenge action against their brothers.

    Shameful behaviour !

    Report Post » YellowFin  

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