No Jail Time for Amish Brothers Convicted of Rape

[janterry]

A judge sentenced Aaron and Petie Schwartz, two Amish brothers from Seymour, Missouri, to five years of probation and 100 hours of community service, on Tuesday, September 8th, 2020.

Webster County Prosecuting Attorney Ben Berkstresser said:
In the end, this wasn’t a case of a parent and child, where a parent in a position of authority sexually abused or exploited their child… And I made the decision not to send them to the DOC, to suspend the sentences. These two young men would’ve been eaten alive in the state prison system.

The convicted young men are 22 and 18. Their sisters were 12 and 13. They were repeatedly raped and the 13 year old impregnated. She has given birth to the child.

According to online court records, both originally charged with six felony counts of statutory rape or attempted rape.


https://www.ozarksfirst.com/top-stories/brothers-sentenced-to-probation-after-pleading-guilty-to-reduced-child-molestation-charges/

https://www.ozarksfirst.com/top-stories/seymour-brothers-charged-with-rape-of-child-relative/#:~:text=SEYMOUR%2C%20Mo.&text=According%20to%20online%20court%20records,statutory%20rape%20or%20attempted%20rape.

[mitch96]

1. this is nuts... How can these guys get off so easy? nt

[2naSalit]

11. They are...

very white and very religiously connected. In their community women are chattel so them raping their sisters isn't seen as such a great offense.

The sentence is BS at best.

[get the red out]

2. All you have to be

Is a man is in a religious cult and you get by with even more rape than guys without the “pure and hardworking,Godly” label. And regular guys get by with plenty, as we all know.

No one gives a damn about the girls, as usual.

[2naSalit]

12. +1

[lark]

3. I fucking HATE this version of America where white boys rape with impunity.

Because they are white, they are forgiven. What total BS! What about the sisters and other women these asses will rape in the future since they will have received zero real punishment? They don't give a shit about women, actually hate us.

Dems need to do something about the repug judiciary who have decided that rape is no longer a crime for white guys, only minorities. I am sure this can be remedied somehow, just don't know enough about the legal system to propose anything.

How fucking disgusting and unacceptable.

[janterry]

7. to be fair

I worked with a girl about 10 years ago whose brother had raped her when she was 10 (following years of molestation)

They did not sentence him because he had a scholarship for sports and they didn't want to 'ruin his career'. FWIW, he is black.

I think if he had been an adult at the time of the crime, it might have been a very different outcome.

The worst part for her was that he was allowed in the family home - and all was forgiven. She had no interest in doing that and was a mess. I got her out of the home, but that further stigmatized her

Anyway, I'm not familiar with the stats on this - it would be good to see the numbers. They are out there, I'm sure

I think - looking at this case - these young girls will face the same problem as my client. They are trying to 'treat' the boys in the community (though I don't see evidence of it- I don't see a treatment order, but it might exist). So, the girls will be forced to accept them back into the home/community. What do the girls get out of this? They will not feel safe

[pdxflyboy]

4. "These 2 young men would have been eaten alive in the state prison system ".

Sometimes that’s what needs to happen.

[2naSalit]

13. Unfortunately...

That's not a cure. It often ends up that should they return to society, they are enraged that their privilege was violated and they are more unacceptable thereafter. Seen it happen and more results of it than I care to mention. We are in a social transition, we need to find better solutions.

Our self centered ethos is showing us it's damnable elements yet we ignore the warnings and now, here we are, facing total ruin because we can't accept that others matter. Our society is shredding itself so expect to see the inner guts of the worst of mankind as we travel through it. Here it comes, full scream ahead.

[safeinOhio]

5. About the Amish and forgiveness.

Strange cult and every group is a little different, but I always found this story very interesting.Five died and five survived.

For a long time, Esh wrestled with himself, tormented by the idea that he could somehow have saved his classmates. He still struggles with the memories.

There have been many mass shootings across America in the 10 years since the shooting in the tiny village of Nickel Mines, some with much higher death tolls. But the Amish school shooting still strikes a chord. The attacker preyed on the most innocent and defenseless members of a determinedly bucolic and pacifistic religious community. Within hours, the Amish announced they had forgiven him.

This week, families whose children were at the school that day held a special picnic to mark the 10-year anniversary. First responders also attended. On Sunday, Christ Stoltzfus will visit the grave of his daughter, Anna Mae, who was 12 years old when she died. She is buried in a local cemetery, with the other girls who were killed.

From the Guardian.

Worth reading, if like the study of Culture.

[janterry]

8. I remember that story

and I have no problem with the girls, should they grow up and decide they want to forgive their brothers - that they are allowed to do so.

But they are still children and they need to feel safe and protected. IF they forgive, that's their journey. That the boys are back in the community (and back in the home? I assume they are home, and if not, in the small community).

That is not psychologically safe. And that girl gave birth. What will the Amish do? Marry her off as soon as possible? Hide her at home??

This result privileges the boys at the expense of the victims. The girls At THE VERY LEAST, they need to be sent away to a confined treatment facility. IMO

[samnsara]

6. their parents must be so proud of them! and just think.. their church will continue to

...defend their actions...

[blueinredohio]

9. Hopefully someone made the brothers leave home.

They're old enough to take care of themselves.

[janterry]

10. I sure hope so

those girls are going to have to see them every Sunday - standing as leaders (men) of the community

Imagine if they are in the home, as well