Most Ohio Amish appeal beard-cutting convictions

CLEVELAND - Amish convicted in hair- and beard-cutting attacks on fellow members of their faith in Ohio are lining up to appeal their convictions.

By Tuesday, 10 of 16 defendants sentenced Feb. 8 in Cleveland federal court had asked the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati to reverse their convictions.

The defendants have challenged the constitutionality of the federal hate-crimes act as overly broad, a claim rejected by the trial judge last year before the trial.

Ring leader Sam Mullet Sr., who has yet to appeal, has been sentenced to 15 years and the co-defendants, all members of his extended family, got sentences of one year to seven years.

A jury convicted them of attacks in apparent retaliation against Amish who had defied or denounced Mullet's authoritarian style.