January 21, 2010
Court Rules Amish Elders to Stand Trial for Failure to Report Child Abuse
In a case that has brought national attention to Webster County, the attorney for religious leaders of the local Amish community defended his clients at a preliminary hearing last Wednesday, Jan. 13. The Amish did not appear for the hearing, as their appearance was waived by the court. Defense attorney Will Worsham requested that Associate Circuit Court Judge Ken Thompson dismiss the charges against Christian J.F. Schwartz, Jacob P. Schwartz, Emmanuel M.S. Eicher and Peter M. Eicher, church elders each charged with one count of failure to report child abuse by a mandated reporter, a Class A misdemeanor. ... Webster County Prosecuting Attorney Danette Padgett argued that the charges should not be dismissed because the elders were viewed by members of their community as religious leaders, or Fannie Schwartz would never have approached the men about the alleged abuse occurring in her home, seeking counsel and intervention.Click Here For The Full Story......