BishopAccountability.org
	Updated: Amish Couple Pleads Guilty to Sex Charges KSPR January 26, 2010 http://www.kspr.com/news/local/82719392.html An Amish man pleaded guilty to child molestation on the same day his wife pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child. Johnny and Fannie Schwartz were arrested last October in Webster County for sexual abuse. They were shunned when church leaders found out about the abuse. Now four bishops are charged with not reporting the abuse. Tuesday Johnny Schwartz was sentenced to 20 years in prison. His wife Fannie will not have to serve her 5 year sentence if she completes 100 hours of community service. 10 p.m. Update: An Amish couple from Webster County pleaded guilty Tuesday to sex crimes. The case continues as others in the tightly-knit religious community are charged with knowing about the crimes but not reporting them. Last year, investigators say Johnny Schwartz went to a Springfield hospital for help. They say he told hospital workers he felt bad for touching children. Investigators say he admitted to inappropriately touching a 15 and 16-year-old girl. On Tuesday, dozens of Amish left behind their horses and buggies to ride to the Webster County Courthouse in three large vans. About 50 men and women from the community came to show support for Johnny and Fannie Schwartz. "This is exactly what we expected to happen," the Schwartz’s attorney, Will Worsham, said. “They were looking for a quick resolution so they can go back to as normal of a lifestyle as they could." Johnny Schwartz pleaded guilty to two charges of statutory sodomy and two counts of child molestation. Schwartz received two 10 year sentences for each count of child molestation in the first degree. He will serve those sentences consecutively. He also received two seven year sentences for sodomy in the second degree those will be served at the same time. Webster County Prosecutor Danette Padgett says she is satisfied with the combined 20 year prison sentence. "We want to let the women know they can stand up to their men and say ‘Look this is not going to happen. If you do this to our children I will tell on you, and look what happened to Johnny Schwartz.’” Padgett said. Schwartz's wife, Fannie, pleaded guilty to child endangerment for not reporting abuse. Authorities believe the sex crimes occurred for years. "She did everything her community instructed her to do in this situation. She went to the authorities in her community," Worsham said. The Amish community did shun Johnny Schwartz but outside officials say that did not stop the abuse. They say the silence also broke state law. Padgett’s office charged four bishops for failing to report the abuse to authorities under the mandatory reporter law. Christian J.F. Schwartz, Jacob P. Schwartz, Emmanuel M.S. Eicher and Peter Eicher all face one misdemeanor charge. According to court documents, the bishops shunned Schwartz from the church two years before the charges and around the time of the charges. Investigators say Christian Schwartz said it was against Amish Rules to report child sexual abuse to law enforcement. "These men are primarily farmers not ministers and therefore this really shouldn't apply to them," Worsham said. He is representing the bishops in their March trial. "I believe they were mandatory reporters and they failed to report as required by the law,” Padgett said. “I can't treat them differently because they are Amish." The Schwartz's 11 children will see both parents again. Johnny Schwartz’s attorney says he won't his children until they are adults. "Our hearts go out to the victims and we hope in their mind the right thing happened,” Webster County Sheriff Roye Cole said. “There's an entire group trying to advocate and support them." Fannie Schwartz will be on supervised probation for five years. She must also complete 100 hours of community service and counseling if requested by her probation officer. The four bishops' trial is set for March 10th.
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