Four Amish Elders Plead Guilty To Endangering The Welfare Of A Child:

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Four Amish Elders from Seymour pleaded guilty today to charges of endangering the welfare of a child for failing to report the sexual abuse of two girls living in their community last year.



Johnny A. Schwartz was sentenced to 20 years in prison

In October of 2009, Johnny A. Schwartz was charged with several sex offenses related to the ongoing molestation of his daughters. His wife, Fannie, was charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child for not reporting the abuse of her girls.

As elders of their church, Jacob Schwartz, 80; Christian Schwartz 41; Emmanuel Eicher, 44, and Peter Eicher are required by law as mandated reporters to report all allegations of physical or sexual abuse.

One of the bishops told a sheriff's investigator, "that it was against the Amish Rules to report child sexual abuse," and that they had shunned Johnny Schwartz twice for the sexual abuse of his daughters.
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Each of the elders was fined $300 for not contacting authorities when they learned of the sexual abuse.
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In the probable cause statement filed with the charges against Johnny Schwartz, one of the girls told investigators with the Child Advocacy Center that her dad told her, "he was sorry, but could not stop doing it."

Fannie Schwartz told Webster County Sheriff's investigator Rick Hamilton that the sexual abuse of her girls, "didn't bother her like it should have."

In January Johnny Schwartz pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two ten year consecutive sentences on  child molestation charges.  He also received two seven year sentences for statutory sodomy charges.



Fannie Schwartz received 5 years probation

Fannie J. Schwartz pleaded guilty to charges of endangering the welfare of a child and was placed on five years probation. She was also ordered to complete 100 hours of community service.

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Webster County Prosecutor Danette Padgett says her office will pursue charges against any mandated reporter who does not report the sexual or physical abuse of any child in her county.