Guilty Verdict In Amish Attacks Case

Sixteen people who previously rejected plea deals were convicted yesterday of hair- and beard- cutting attacks on fellow Amish in Ohio.The federal jury found 66-year-old Samuel Mullet Senior, the leader of the breakaway Amish group, guilty of orchestrating the attacks last fall in an attempt to shame mainstream members who he thought were straying from their beliefs. Sentencing is scheduled for January. Federal Prosecutor Steven Dettelbach says the hate crimes targeted hair because it carries spiritual significance in the Amish faith.