The Amish & Crime

Stories about the Amish as victims – or perpetrators – of crime.

Mennonites & Amish Victims Of $60 Million Investment Scheme

This is only the latest in a lengthening line of schemes which have taken advantage of Plain community investors. From WSOC: FRANKLIN COUNTY, Pa. — A Pennsylvania accountant defrauded Amish and Mennonite community members out of $60 million after investing their money in a failing dairy he owned, investigators said. Philip E. Riehl provided accounting services to members in the religious communities. He created an…

Flasher Targeting Amish Women

Flasher Targeting Amish Women

There are sick individuals out there. This man needs to be caught so he will stop traumatizing his victims, and ultimately get some sort of help. A flasher (or “indecent exposure suspect” in official parlance) is targeting Amish women in Juniata County, Pennsylvania: According to police, a Fayette Township woman reported that on Nov. 1, 2019, a man pulled up in front of her home…

Report Highlights 50+ Sexual Abuse Cases In Amish Communities Over Two Decades

Report Highlights 50+ Sexual Abuse Cases In Amish Communities Over Two Decades

A story published this week by Type Investigations and Cosmopolitan magazine has collected the accounts of victims of sexual abuse in Amish communities. Author Sarah McClure also tallied up cases of abuse by Amish offenders over a two-decade span. McClure reached a total of 52 documented cases of abuse across seven states in her investigation. One judge cited in the story has personally presided over…

Nearly 40 Amish Youth Partygoers Arrested

We recently saw some wild Amish youth behavior on a small scale, when four Amish youth were charged with offenses including underage drinking and disturbing the peace. That number went up by almost tenfold this past weekend in northern Indiana. Nearly 40 Amish teens and young adults were arrested between two area parties attended by over 200 people, who were, according to police accounts in…

Four Amish Youth Plead Guilty To Underage Drinking, Disturbing The Peace

Four Amish Youth Plead Guilty To Underage Drinking, Disturbing The Peace

“This kind of stuff happens all the time with them.” That’s area resident Cyndi Tipton, on an incident involving local Amish youth. The young men’s behavior led to charges including underage drinking and disturbing the peace. The four young Amish men, ages ranging from 19 to 20, also were charged with providing false information to an officer. The area in question is Gladwin County, Michigan….

Two Volunteer Firefighters Arrested For Burning Down Amish Furniture Shop

Two Volunteer Firefighters Arrested For Burning Down Amish Furniture Shop

Two volunteer firefighters have been charged with arson in the burning of an Amish furniture shop in Pennsylvania. The community in question is Smicksburg (Indiana County), one of the larger settlements in the state. Byler’s Custom Built Aspen Log Furniture burned down in a fire back in January. This was one of four Amish business fires which I noted at the time had happened in…

Earl D. Miller Ordered To Repay $5.2 Million, Mostly To Amish Investors

Earl D. Miller Ordered To Repay $5.2 Million, Mostly To Amish Investors

Back in February, we looked at four major financial schemes which Amish had fallen victim to since 2008. A principal figure in one of those schemes has now been ordered to pay restitution. One thing to mention up front: articles on this are describing Earl D. Miller as “Amish” (of course, that’s a catchier and more concise headline than “formerly Amish” or “Amish-raised”). However, it…

Amish Youth Abandon Stereo-Equipped Buggy After Being Pulled Over (UPDATE: Father Comes Forward)

Amish Youth Abandon Stereo-Equipped Buggy After Being Pulled Over (UPDATE: Father Comes Forward)

This is what an Amish buggy equipped with a stereo system looks like. These are big speakers and can surely put out some noise: It’s unclear if they were turned on when sheriff’s deputies pulled this buggy over in the Geauga County Amish community. The occupants of the carriage promptly ran off. From wspa.com: Just before 1 a.m., Trumbull County sheriff’s deputies said they saw…

Sexual Abuse Awareness Program Leads To Arrest, Conviction Of Amishman

Sexual Abuse Awareness Program Leads To Arrest, Conviction Of Amishman

An Amishman was sentenced Thursday in Dauphin County, PA for sexually abusing four girls when he was a teenager. From Penn Live: The 11 ½- to 23-month prison term President Judge Richard A. Lewis imposed on King was set in an agreement King reached when he pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including aggravated indecent assault, in April. King, now 33 and a Lebanon County resident,…

Amish Girl Shot In Face By BB Gun Fired From Vehicle

Amish Girl Shot In Face By BB Gun Fired From Vehicle

Unlike yesterday’s lead story, this is not of the feel-good variety. The Jamestown Post-Journal reports on an incident which happened Sunday in Warren County, PA: WARREN, Pa. — Information is being sought after a youth riding in an Amish buggy was struck in the face by a BB fired from an SUV in Warren County. According to the Pennsylvania State Police, the incident took place…