Sex Abuse in Amish Community

(Marshfield, Missouri) A member of the Amish community in southern Webster County, Johnny A. Schwartz, has been accused of engaging in sex with two female relatives under the age of 14. Johnny A. Schwartz is in the Webster County Jail facing charges of first-degree child molestation, first-degree statutory sodomy and second-degree statutory sodomy.

Johnny A. Schwartz's wife, Fannie J. Schwartz, has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child for not reporting the sexual abuse. She's free on bond.

Additionally, four members of the local Amish leadership, Christian J.F. Schwartz, 40; Jacob P. Schwartz, 79; Emmanuel M.S. Eicher, 44; and Peter M. Eicher, 59, face misdemeanor charges for failure to report the abuse. All four identify themselves as bishops.

[E]ach probable cause statement alleges that church bishops in the Amish community met as a group about punishment for Johnny A. Schwartz. More than one of the documents makes reference to Johnny A. Schwartz being “shunned” by his fellow Amish.

According to Webster County Sheriff Roye Cole, the Amish were embarrassed and ashamed by the allegations of sexual abuse and attempted to resolve the situation by the church method of discipline called shunning.

Asked what “shunning” involved, Cole said he understood it to be a time with the one being shunned cannot have involvement with the rest of the Amish community, and the person’s immediate family. The probable cause statements filed Tuesday made reference to Johnny A. Schwartz twice being shunned by the church.

As a consequence of their failure to notify law enforcers of the alleged sexual abuse, the four bishops were charged. Meanwhile, Sheriff Cole and Prosecuting Attorney Danette Padgett made it clear to the Amish elders that state law requires ministers to report child abuse and neglect to appropriate authorities.

The four bishops have a court appearance scheduled for November 16. Johnny A. and Fannie J. Schwartz have court appearances scheduled for December 16.