Amish man accused of sex crimes with children
ST. LOUIS (AP) – A 26-year-old Amish man has been charged with sexually assaulting five underage girls in Missouri and Wisconsin, including a cousin of his, authorities said Tuesday.
Chester Mast, of Curryville, Mo., was arrested in late May after authorities were contacted by members of Pike County, Mo., Amish community, an “Old Order Amish” community that shuns such amenities as electricity, phones and cars.
Pike County Sheriff Stephen Korte said Tuesday that Mast sexually assaulted four girls in Missouri and one in Wisconsin who ranged in age from 5 to 15 years old. Two of the Missouri girls were Amish and two weren’t, and the Wisconsin victim was his cousin, who is Amish, authorities said.
“It is unfortunate that nowhere in society is anybody immune from being a victim,” Korte said Tuesday. “No matter where you go there are people who may violate other people’s liberties and freedoms and peace of mind.”
Korte and Scott Blader, the district attorney for Waushara County, Wis., said they worried that there may be other victims.
“It looks as though there are other matters out there and we’re looking at them actively,” Blader said.
Mast is charged in Missouri with two counts of statutory rape, two counts of statutory sodomy and one count of sexual misconduct involving a child. Korte said he is not related to any of those girls. Mast has not entered a plea, and was scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday.
In Wisconsin, Mast is charged with sexual assault and incest. Blader said the victim there is Mast’s cousin. He declined to give her exact age at the time of the alleged assault, only saying that she was from 13 to 16 years old.
Mast is jailed on $100,000 bond in Pike County, but if he posts bail, he’ll be extradited to Wisconsin and held without bond, Blader said.
Mast did not have a listed attorney, but a request was made through jail officials to interview Mast by phone.
Mast has lived most of his life in Missouri but spent some time in Wisconsin, prosecutors said. The alleged assaults in Missouri happened between July 2007 and March 2009, and the Wisconsin assault occurred in 2004, they said.
Both Pike County and Waushara County have large Amish communities. In Pike County, Mast and most of the 60 or so Amish families live near the town of Curryville, about 90 miles northwest of St. Louis.
Korte and Blader said their offices rarely get reports of serious crimes involving the Amish.
“It is rather unusual,” Blader said. “This is probably the first one I’ve seen.”
The Pike County Genealogical Society said the community is “Old Order Amish” that uses no electricity, phones or cars. Community members travel by horse and buggy, use kerosene lamps for light and gasoline-powered machinery.
Mast worked in a sawmill and farmed, Korte said. He had no previous felony record.
Jun 10, 2010 at 9:09 a.m.
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"GEEZ", "DUH", LMAO
Jun 9, 2010 at 5:30 p.m.
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I'm tired of people using "GEEZ" to try to get a point across! Reminds me of junior high or somewhere thereabouts.
Jun 9, 2010 at 1:05 p.m.
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On the plus side, they'll help you build a barn for the low, low price of a glass of lemonade.
Jun 9, 2010 at 12:32 p.m.
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I'm tired of people using "DUH!" to try to get a point across! Geez. Reminds me of junior high or somewhere thereabouts.
Jun 9, 2010 at 11:12 a.m.
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Their men wear flood pants.
Jun 9, 2010 at 10:54 a.m.
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lol br549 I was thiking the same thing! On a serious note...glad the guy was caught before he hurt another person. He needs some SERIOUS help. Disgusting!
Jun 9, 2010 at 10:49 a.m.
Jun 9, 2010 at 10:40 a.m.
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FYI AMISH PEOPLE DO PAY TAXES, duh!! If people didn't have to pay taxes because of their religion then i think everyone would become Amish!! I swear ya'll don't think before you comment on these stories. Any YES happycamper it is news when some nasty pervert molests 5 innocent girls... again DUH!! Murder has been going on for generations too, but nevertheless it's news when someone is murdered!!!!!
Jun 9, 2010 at 10:39 a.m.
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Self-employed Amish do not pay Social Security tax. Those employed by non- Amish employers do pay Social Security tax. The Amish do pay real estate, state and federal income taxes, county taxes, sales tax, etc.
The Amish do not collect Social Security benefits, nor would they collect unemployment or welfare funds. Self sufficiency is the Amish community's answer to government aid programs. Section 310 of the Medicare section of the Social Security act has a sub-section that permits individuals to apply for exemption from the self-employment tax if he is a member of a religious body that is conscientiously opposed to Social Security benefits but that makes reasonable provision of taking care of their own elderly or dependent members. The Amish have a long history of taking care of their own members. They do not have retirement communities or nursing homes; in most cases, each family takes care of their own, and the Amish community gives assistance as needed. http://www.holycrosslivonia.org/amish/am...
Jun 9, 2010 at 10:32 a.m.
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This is news? Incest and sodomy and sexual assult in the Amish society has gone on for generations. An Amish girl in Pennsylvania recently reported it to local police and her family was shuned from the Amish community. They want nothing to do with laws, they take care of the offenses them selves, by just looking the other way. Sad but true.
Jun 9, 2010 at 10:17 a.m.
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They don't contribute to the defense of this country.
Jun 9, 2010 at 9:37 a.m.
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Ok Napalm, stop paying your taxes and you will then be eligible for the State's incarceration program. I'm sure with your level of intellect you will be treated very well.
Jun 9, 2010 at 9:24 a.m.
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Oops, didn't mean to post, article just struck a nerve, I guess.
Jun 9, 2010 at 9:20 a.m.
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This story is not abut taxes. There is a time and place for that. I feel deeply for these young girls. This man deserves to get the harshest punishment available. JMO
Jun 9, 2010 at 9:12 a.m.
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It is my understanding that they do not pay taxes, but they are also not eligible for any state or federal programs.
Jun 9, 2010 at 8:47 a.m.
Jun 9, 2010 at 8:26 a.m.
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They own property, they pay taxes. Also they do use the roads.
Jun 9, 2010 at 7:54 a.m.
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Aren't the judicial & penal systems both state/city services? Looks like this pervert will be in need of those services real soon.
Jun 8, 2010 at 11:49 p.m.
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Blue: I dont believe they pay taxes. (to be fair they really do not use any state/city services either)
Jun 8, 2010 at 9:07 p.m.
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There are two here in the state, both last names Yoder, Daniel and Isaac. Look them up on the registry, and you will see them.
Just being curious...do the Amish pay taxes?
Jun 8, 2010 at 8:29 p.m.
Jun 8, 2010 at 8:21 p.m.
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Alright enough horsen around.
Jun 8, 2010 at 7:30 p.m.
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I'm willing to bet the internet was not involved for a change!
Jun 8, 2010 at 7:21 p.m.
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to the electric chair...no wait
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