Amish Leader Gets 15 Years, Samuel Mullet [VIDEOS]: Alleged Cult Leader of Notorious Beard Attacks Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison

Samuel Mullet, the leader of a breakaway Amish community in rural eastern Ohio, was sentenced Friday to 15 years in prison for organizing a beard and hair cutting assault on community members. The 67-year-old Mullet and about 15 followers were found guilty in connection with what has been described as "religiously motivated" attacks on several fellow Amish people. Mullet and his followers were convicted of conspiracy to violate a federal hate-crime law.

According to prosecutors and witnesses, Mullet's followers, on his orders, shaved the beards and cut the hair of Amish people who had left his group over the years for various religious disagreements. According to an FBI affidavit filed before the trial, Samual Mullet wanted to "seek revenge and punish the departing families. Mullet was the bishop of the group living on a compound outside Bergholz, Ohio. The attackers, under the orders of Mullet, used scissors and battery-powered clippers to assault the victims. In most cases, the Amish try not to involve the law enforcement and try to resolve issues within the community, but in this case the police were contacted. 5 of the attacks happened in 4 eastern Ohio counties between September and November 2011. According to the Justice Department 4 of the accused followers were sentenced to 7 years in prison, 3 were sentenced to 5 years, 2 were sentenced to 2 years and 6 more were sentenced to 1 year and a day for the assaults.

In the Amish community, a beard is an important representation of manhood and faith. The same goes for the way the Amish women wear their hair, symbolizing faith and womanhood. United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, Steven M. Dettelbach reflected on the situation with the following statement:

"Our nation was founded on the bedrock principle that everyone is free to worship how [he or she] see fit. Violent attempts to attack this most basic freedom have no place in our country."

With Mullet's 15-year sentence, the eastern Ohio Community can rest a little easier knowing that the law is on their side with situations like this. The Amish community has been gaining a lot of media presence with the new Discovery channel original reality show entitled "Amish Mafia." The new television program follows the dealings of organizations within the Amish communities focused on intimidation and community protection. "Amish Mafia" included a brief summary of the Samuel Mullet situation in one of the episodes.