Teenage Burglar Gets 8 Days in Jail For Amish Break-Ins
There are a couple of things that grab your attention about this latest story of crime against the Amish (more below). From wearegreenbay.com:
WAUSHARA COUNTY, Wis. (WFRV) – A 17-year-old boy from Wisconsin has reached a plea agreement after allegedly burglarizing two Amish-owned businesses, including one location that was targeted twice.
According to the Waushara County Sheriff’s Office, the first incident occurred on November 6, 2024, when an Amish business owner reported a forced entry and theft of money. While deputies and detectives were investigating that burglary, a second Amish business owner reported a similar break-in at his business.
Weeks later, one of the businesses was burglarized for a second time. There was a “lengthy investigation”, after which:
…authorities identified Leon L. Borntrager of Arpin as the suspect. Borntrager, who had no connection to either business, confessed to all three break-ins during an interview. Investigators also found his fingerprints on the door handle of one of the businesses.
Borntrager was charged with three separate felony burglary cases in Waushara County. As part of a plea agreement reached on April 15, 2025, he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor theft.
Borntrager will spend eight days in jail, two years in probation, and has been ordered to pay the business owners restitution, which I assume will include covering damaged caused during the burglaries.
Noteworthy
One thing that stands out of course is the age of the person – just 17. But of more interest is the background of this person.
Though he’s not identified as such, you can’t ignore that this young man has a very typically “Amish” name. And if you ask me, based on the low-quality photo at least, a bit of an Amish appearance as well.
If I had to guess, I’d say this is probably an Amish-raised youth. I could be wrong, but it wouldn’t be the first time an Amish young person committed crimes in his own community.
Though it’s not the norm, some young Amish-raised individuals spend troubled years, and can turn to drug use and even criminal acts.
Of course, this could also be someone with Amish ancestry, removed by a generation or two from the Amish.
Another, more serious example
It’s a different type of crime, but this case brought to mind an infamous series of arsons carried out by the grandson of an Amish bishop.
It happened in the early 1990s in the Big Valley community of Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. Six Amish barns were set ablaze on a single night in 1992, killing scores of animals and causing massive financial losses.
Darvin Ray Peachey, 23, eventually pled guilty to the crimes, and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. One – odd? – detail in the story was that Peachey’s father happened to be a convicted arsonist as well.
Leon Borntrager’s crimes are minor in comparison. But maybe getting caught now will end up being the biggest blessing the young man has received.
Objective Christian Report
Dear Erik,
Thank you for this excellent Christian report of a series of break-ins and thefts by a young man. You report the facts clearly and objectively.
I particularly liked how you brought to our attention this young fellow’s surname, Borntrager, as most likely being of Amish origin. Then, you gently reminded us that there can well be troubled young people among the Amish. It was also very good that you rehearsed some history by describing the fires lit by an arsonist some years ago in Big Valley. Once again, you told us the background of the fellow who was the arsonist.
But, best of all was your Christian response to this most recent set of incidents : this young man now has to remake restitution of what was damaged and stolen, and there is the strong Christian hope he will turn his life around to be centred on Christ, and will live the rest of his life as God intends us so to do.
Once again, Erik, thank you for all your good articles and careful reports.
Sincerely,
Larry Clarence Lewis
London, Ontario, Canada.