'Bergholz Clan' Busts: Arrests In Amish Beard-Cutting Attacks In Ohio (VIDEO)

After several Amish people were held down against their will and given unwanted haircuts, police have arrested four members of a rival Amish group.

Ohio police have detained Johnny Mullet, 38, Lester Mullet, 26, Levi Miller, 53, and Lester Miller, whose age was not released, for allegedly cutting a 74-year-old's hair and beard with scissors in Holmes County, WFMJ reports.

Jefferson County Sheriff Fred Abdallah told WKYC that his deputies expect to arrest two more suspects for their roles in the beard-cuttings, which have swept through Ohio's Amish communities since September.

Amish do not shave or cut their hair for religious reasons, and many have considered these incidents an attack on the victims' religious identity.

"This message is going to be sent, Amish people are not going to tolerate this," Abdallah told the station.

Last week, Abdallah told HuffPost Crime that the suspects were members of an Amish splinter group lead by bishop Sam Mullet.

Mullet was not described as a suspect in the attacks, which count two Amish bishops among the victims.

But Abdallah said Mullet "calls all the shots" for his followers in the community of Bergholz.

In an interview before the arrests, Mullet denied involvement in the beard-cuttings and told WKYC that they are a religious matter, not a criminal matter.

"It's all religion -- that's why we can't figure out why the sheriff has his nose in it," Mullet told the station. "It started with us ex-communicating members that weren't listening or obeying our laws. That's where it all started."

The suspects are reportedly being held on $250,000 bond.

WATCH: Local news coverage of the arrests

(EDITOR'S NOTE: In this WKYC video, a reporter says police will use an officer who speaks "Dutch" in order to communicate with the Amish suspects. Many members of Amish communities speaks a dialect of German known as Pennsylvania Dutch.)

VIDEO: Amish Infighting Leads to Beard Cutting

Comments

[Jenni Gahr Schmidt]

12:37 PM on 11/13/2011

Amish on Amish Barber-Terrorism! What is this world coming to? Oh the humanity!

[raegrant5]

04:02 PM on 10/16/2011

This is funny! If you don't see the humor in this then you need to relax! Some have been calling this a hate crime, well it really isn't because these rival groups the same! That would be like two idiots calling each other idiots!! This whole thing is just FUNNY and if you don't see humor in something so silly then you need to go back to sleep!! I think the only thing I would love to know is Why????? And come on guys! the leader of the "beard cutters" name is MULLET! How is this not funny?? I find it hard to believe they are holding the suspects on $250,000 !! What is up with that? You can rape your neighbor and kill her dog and bail out for $50,000!! OH WELL.....I won't worry about the money end of it because I am having to much fun with the story! To funny......:)

[rMatey]

11:59 AM on 10/15/2011

Please stop this Amish on Amish violence. Break up the Bungholes Gang.

[Mithrall]

03:18 PM on 10/13/2011

I knew something like this was bound to happen. The Obama administration purposefully allowed electric clippers to be smuggled into Amish country as part of their "Fast and Furryious" operation and then lost track of them.

[Jenni Gahr Schmidt]

12:36 PM on 11/13/2011

I love how your mind works! F&F!

[Wonder Woman2]

02:59 PM on 10/13/2011

Not religion but assault pure and simple.

[mithrilsolider]

02:59 AM on 10/13/2011

its a buncha douchebaggery!

[gobsmacked58]

01:28 AM on 10/12/2011

This isn't Funny ! This is a hate crime ! nowone has the right to cut a beard or hair as a
hesitic jew (parden the spelling) it is a crime against humanity!!!!!

[Ialdaboath]

11:43 AM on 10/12/2011

Umm the Amish are not Jewish... they're Christian. lol

[gobsmacked58]

08:06 PM on 10/13/2011

And you Are an ASS !!!!!

[Sammie55]

07:27 AM on 10/19/2011

A crime against humanity? Oh please

[ptuph1]

12:42 AM on 10/12/2011

I never cease to be amazed by some of the actions committed in the name of religion ..... and this situation is no exception. Breaking into someone's home and doing anything to a person's body without their permission is assault ..... period. The people who have done this deserve to be arrested and subjected to the full extent of the law for their actions. My sympathy goes out to the people on the receiving end of this abuse for having the symbols of their religion defiled by the actions of others.

[almchrl13]

07:22 PM on 10/11/2011

I heard they was a givin' gals bikini waxings - without the wax!

[Charles Queen]

06:10 PM on 10/11/2011

This is certainly nothing new at all.There have been"brea away groups" of Amish people that have been leaving the homestead and moving into group homes until they can get on their feet and also get use to the outsied world and all.It was bound to happen eventualy.I don't see the big problem with it myself anf if the younger generations of Amish wish to change their life styles and eneter the main stream world then so be it and I wish them all the best and hope that they suceed in whatever line of work etc they may wish to go to

[Joe Bigg]

05:43 PM on 10/11/2011

"It started with us ex-communicating members that weren't listening or obeying our laws. That's where it all started."

I wonder if Amish Law is higher than State Law?

Hm, this sound more like thuggery than religion.

[almchrl13]

07:23 PM on 10/11/2011

Sounds like they was-a imposing Hairia Law!

[AccuracyInReading]

12:29 PM on 10/13/2011

nice

[akarmahitmydogma]

05:26 PM on 10/11/2011

mullet now describes his accusers as baldfaced liars.....

[almchrl13]

07:18 PM on 10/11/2011

DId they give them mullets.

[jemteku]

04:33 PM on 10/11/2011

Yikes. Beard cutting. Just savage behavior. The pubic hair is next. Nah, I don't think they would be that bold to see the genitals. Against aggression, eh? :o)

[Carmen Slade]

04:02 PM on 10/11/2011

"It's all religion -- that's why we can't figure out why the sheriff has his nose in it," Mullet told the station.

And this is the problem with religions. When they transgress and violate secular law, they don't understand why they should have to go to court. In any other situation, a forced shave and a haircut would be considered assault. I'd throw in "abuse of the elderly" here as well.

Mr. Mullet is about to learn where his religious rights end.

As Australian Senator Nick Xenophon said about Scientology, “Ultimately, this is not about religious freedom. In Australia there are no limits on what you can believe. But there are limits on how you can behave. It is called the law, and no-one is above it.”

[Economike]

03:55 PM on 10/11/2011

First they get jailed for not putting reflective tape on their buggies now this. At least their not paying 4 dollars a gallon for petrol.