# Why is cutting someone's beard punishable with 15 years of prison? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 23, 2013, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-cutting-someones-beard-punishable-with-15-years-of-prison/666965 "2013-08-23T14:12:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Donnerwetter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-cutting-someones-beard-punishable-with-15-years-of-prison/666965/1 "2013-08-23T14:12:23Z")
Some of you may have heard about this story. The [New York Times wrote](http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/09/us/amish-sect-leader-gets-15-years-in-beard-cutting-attacks.html?hp&_r=3&): > [@](#): > > The leader of a dissident Amish sect was sentenced on Friday to 15 years in prison for a series of bizarre beard- and hair-cutting attacks on other Ohio Amish that drew national attention. > > Samuel Mullet Sr., 67, the leader, was sentenced in Federal District Court in Cleveland for coordinating assaults that prosecutors argued were motivated by religious intolerance. Fifteen of his followers, including six women, were given lesser sentences, ranging from one year and one day to seven years. > > The breakaway Amish were convicted last year of multiple counts of conspiracy and hate crimes, which carry harsher punishment than simple assault. > > Prosecutors had asked for a life sentence for Mr. Mullet. While the incident is truly bizarre, the severity of the sentence is even more so. Masterminding a campaign of cutting the beards of people you disagree with on religious and maybe lifestyle issue surely is a naughty thing. But it is hardly the crime of the century. If there ever is a perfect of example of **unusual** punishment, being put in the slammer for 15 years for beard cutting must be it. What’s the legal justification for this? This seems utterly absurd. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-cutting-someones-beard-punishable-with-15-years-of-prison/666965/2 "2013-08-23T14:16:27Z")
From the article: “Followers of Mr. Mullet broke into homes, restrained men and women, and forcibly sheared their victims, sometimes with tools used to clip horse manes.” So even if they didn’t cut off their beards, I see breaking and entering, assault and battery, and either kidnapping or unlawful imprisonment there. It’s just that adding the “convicted of cutting off beards” makes it a more interesting news story. ---
**Author:** ![lawbuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/13edae/32.png) [@lawbuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawbuff)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-cutting-someones-beard-punishable-with-15-years-of-prison/666965/3 "2013-08-23T14:18:26Z")
There were 10 Counts to the Indictment, this was just not a “simple assault” case. [http://www.wkyc.com/assetpool/documents/120328052727\_Superseding%20Indictment%20filed.pdf](http://www.wkyc.com/assetpool/documents/120328052727_Superseding%20Indictment%20filed.pdf) ---
**Author:** ![JerrySTL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@JerrySTL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerrySTL)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-cutting-someones-beard-punishable-with-15-years-of-prison/666965/4 "2013-08-23T14:36:57Z")
> [@Donnerwetter](#): > > If there ever is a perfect of example of **unusual** punishment, being put in the slammer for 15 years for beard cutting must be it. Being put into a prison is not cruel or unusual punishment. The sentence might seem unusual, but as others have pointed out, the actual crimes involved were more than the ‘cutting beards’ sound-bites. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-cutting-someones-beard-punishable-with-15-years-of-prison/666965/5 "2013-08-23T15:00:50Z")
Plus, he appears to have been the one who orchestrated the whole thing. The courts tend to give higher sentences to the ringleaders of criminal activities, because the ringleader is seen as responsible for all of the criminal acts committed at his instigation. The article indicates that his followers got lesser sentences. Plus, the reason for the organized criminal activity is important. This wasn’t college frat pranks. This was a policy of concerted intimidation, in a small, close-knit community - very disruptive to the community. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-cutting-someones-beard-punishable-with-15-years-of-prison/666965/6 "2013-08-23T15:04:11Z")
It’s a good thing home invasion isn’t a Federal crime, because it looks like that was involved, too. ---
**Author:** ![Donnerwetter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-cutting-someones-beard-punishable-with-15-years-of-prison/666965/7 "2013-08-23T15:05:29Z")
Yes. But **15 years in Federal prison**?! In the olden days, I guess, the sentence would have been 3 months in the county jail. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-cutting-someones-beard-punishable-with-15-years-of-prison/666965/8 "2013-08-23T15:11:40Z")
> [@Donnerwetter](#): > > Yes. But **15 years in Federal prison**?! In the olden days, I guess, the sentence would have been 3 months in the county jail. Huh? You mean the days when people were executed for stealing horses? I’m a little confused about how multiple home invasions wouldn’t result in serious prison time in the olden days. Breaking into an occupied home is one of our more serious offenses. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-cutting-someones-beard-punishable-with-15-years-of-prison/666965/9 "2013-08-23T15:13:17Z")
As others have pointed out, this was not a sentence for mere beard-cutting. [Here](http://www.wkyc.com/assetpool/documents/120328052727_Superseding%20Indictment%20filed.pdf) (PDF) is the indictment filed against Mullet. The full list of charges begins on page 4. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-cutting-someones-beard-punishable-with-15-years-of-prison/666965/10 "2013-08-23T15:13:38Z")
> [@Donnerwetter](#): > > Yes. But **15 years in Federal prison**?! In the olden days, I guess, the sentence would have been 3 months in the county jail. For orchestrating a campaign of intimidation to keep a group of people in line? 3 months not really. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-cutting-someones-beard-punishable-with-15-years-of-prison/666965/11 "2013-08-23T15:19:51Z")
There are other counts, but the beard-cutting made it a hate-crime. ---
**Author:** ![Donnerwetter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-cutting-someones-beard-punishable-with-15-years-of-prison/666965/12 "2013-08-23T15:28:05Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > Huh? You mean the days when people were executed for stealing horses? I’m a little confused about how multiple home invasions wouldn’t result in serious prison time in the olden days. Breaking into an occupied home is one of our more serious offenses. By i_n the olden days_, I mean something like the 1950s or 1960s. (BTW, stealing horses was never never punishable by death in the Old West; this would have been an ordinary lynching). ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-cutting-someones-beard-punishable-with-15-years-of-prison/666965/13 "2013-08-23T15:30:52Z")
In the 1950s and 1960s, the crimes would have been ignored by the government and the Amish left to sort it out themselves. And the Amish would have preferred it that way. And the results would have probably been far worse. ---
**Author:** ![Donnerwetter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-cutting-someones-beard-punishable-with-15-years-of-prison/666965/14 "2013-08-23T15:44:23Z")
I’m sure there will be an uproar in the Federal correctional system. Aryan Brotherhood and Mexican Mafia might think they’re badass. But they haven’t met those those Amish beard cutters yet. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-cutting-someones-beard-punishable-with-15-years-of-prison/666965/15 "2013-08-23T15:46:44Z")
I’m not usually in favor of long prison sentences, but if anyone deserves it, it’s this guy ---
**Author:** ![Plaisham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f14d63/32.png) [@Plaisham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plaisham)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-cutting-someones-beard-punishable-with-15-years-of-prison/666965/16 "2013-08-23T15:49:49Z")
Good heavens…I just read the actual charges. 15 years is NOT enough. Use of force and intimidation for the sexual procurments of women is the least of the charges. A very nasty group of people. They should also be banned for life from the Amish community. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-cutting-someones-beard-punishable-with-15-years-of-prison/666965/17 "2013-08-23T16:23:24Z")
Next season on Amish Mafia … ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-cutting-someones-beard-punishable-with-15-years-of-prison/666965/18 "2013-08-23T16:24:01Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Next season on Amish Mafia … Clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop. . . bang! Bang! . . . clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-cutting-someones-beard-punishable-with-15-years-of-prison/666965/19 "2013-08-23T16:49:37Z")
> [@Donnerwetter](#): > > By i_n the olden days_, I mean something like the 1950s or 1960s. > > (BTW, stealing horses was never never punishable by death in the Old West; this would have been an ordinary lynching). So your contention is in the 1950s, when rape was still a death penalty offense for example, I could orchestrate a series of crimes in which we broke into multiple occupied homes to terrorize, assault, and detain individuals I’d be looking at three months of jail time? ---
**Author:** ![Donnerwetter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-cutting-someones-beard-punishable-with-15-years-of-prison/666965/20 "2013-08-23T17:06:55Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > So your contention is in the 1950s, when rape was still a death penalty offense for example, I could orchestrate a series of crimes in which we broke into multiple occupied homes to terrorize, assault, and detain individuals I’d be looking at three months of jail time? The combination of breaking into a man’s house, tying him up and cutting his beard is somewhat unusual. So I really don’t know. But I have had worse things happen to me. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-cutting-someones-beard-punishable-with-15-years-of-prison/666965.md?page=2)