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Amish Leader Samuel Mullet Remains in Jail on Beard-Cutting Charges

By Cynthia Hsu, Esq. on January 17, 2012 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

The accused ringleader of the Amish beard-cutting attacks will remain behind bars. A judge declined to release Samuel Mullet, 66.

And no, Mullet does not have the hairstyle reflective of his moniker.

Mullet and 11 other Amish men pled not guilty in federal court. They were charged with crimes over five separate beard-cutting attacks on Amish men in Ohio. It's believed the attacks were religiously charged.

Some might think these attacks are harmless. After all, cutting beards doesn't seem so bad. Many Americans even pay barbers to trim their facial hair for them.

On the contrary, the beard-cutting attacks are severe. Hair is important in the Amish community. Women in the community do not even cut their hair for religious reasons. Men keep their beards as a symbol of their identity.

How would you like your identity to be severed away from you? It's probably not a pleasant experience.

The attacks were supposedly motivated by revenge. Mullet was allegedly incensed after bishops denied his decision to excommunicate 8 families. The families apparently did not like his leadership, reports the Washington Post.

Mullet and the eleven others stand accused of conspiracy, assault, and evidence tampering, according to CBS.

A judge declined Mullet's release on bond. Due to the nature of his Amish household, electronic monitoring would be difficult. There is no electricity in Mullet's home.

Most likely, the court was concerned that Samuel Mullet would be a flight risk. This is one reason that some judges may bar release. So for now, the man accused of orchestrating the Amish beard-cutting attacks will remain behind bars.

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