A former missionary with an Ohio-based ministry pleaded responsible Tuesday to federal expenses that he sexually abused two boys in Haiti, reaching an settlement with prosecutors that might result in a jail sentence of not less than 25 years.
Jeriah Mast, 45, of Millersburg, Ohio — who advised police in 2019 he had molested greater than 30 boys in Haiti and 4 kids in Ohio — entered the plea earlier than Decide Donald C. Nugent in federal courtroom in Cleveland.
Underneath the plea settlement, Mast and prosecutors agreed that an “applicable” sentence can be between 25 and 33 years, although the decide would have closing say. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 15.
Mast took journeys to Haiti for mission work between 2002 and 2019. That included a number of years of labor for the Millersburg-based Christian Help Ministries, which coordinates missionary actions supported by Amish, conservative Mennonite and associated church teams. Mast belonged to a church in a associated Anabaptist motion.
Mast’s case has drawn consideration to wider sexual abuse points within the conservative, plain-dressing Anabaptist communities, which embrace Previous Order Amish and Mennonites. Advocates have stated that amid the motion’s robust emphasis on forgiveness, victims have been pressured to reconcile with abusers and to not search prosecution exterior the disciplines of the largely closed non secular communities.
Mast was arrested on federal expenses final November, shortly after he acquired early launch for a sexual abuse conviction in Ohio state courtroom. Mast was formally indicted in December on 4 federal expenses of partaking in illicit sexual conduct in a overseas place.
The indictment alleged he abused 4 boys in Haiti — one every in 2004 and 2007 and two in 2011.
Mast’s responsible plea was to expenses involving the 2004 case and one of many 2011 circumstances, every involving a minor between 12 and 16 years previous. Prosecutors agreed to maneuver for dismissal of the remaining two expenses, based on the plea settlement. However Mast admitted to the factual foundation of the remaining expenses within the plea settlement.
The fees have been primarily based on a U.S. legislation that prohibits residents from partaking “in any illicit sexual conduct with one other individual” abroad, based on courtroom filings.
Mast’s legal professional filed a movement in Might to get the costs dismissed, saying the legislation exceeded the constitutionality of Congress’ capacity to control residents’ conduct abroad. The courtroom denied the movement in August. The plea settlement signifies Mast reserved the correct to attraction that ruling.
“This sort of predatory conduct — dedicated by somebody entrusted with missionary work — represents a profound betrayal of belief, and in the present day’s plea is a vital step towards justice for the numerous victims harmed by Mast’s actions,” stated Assistant Lawyer Normal A. Tysen Duva of the U.S. Division of Justice’s Legal Division, in an announcement.
Mast’s legal professional didn’t return a telephone message left Tuesday along with his workplace.
Tuesday marked the second time Mast pleaded responsible in a sexual-abuse case. He was sentenced in Holmes County courtroom in 2019 to 9 years in jail on state expenses of gross sexual imposition involving two boys in Ohio.
However in October 2025, Mast acquired an early judicial launch from state jail and was positioned on probation.
Retired Decide Edward Emmett O’Farrell of neighboring Tuscarawas County granted his launch primarily based on “an exemplary report” behind bars and “most significantly, the Defendant’s acknowledged and demonstrated regret for the crimes he dedicated, and the emotional and psychological ache and struggling he inflicted upon the kid victims and their households on this case.”
U.S. authorities had beforehand been investigating Mast’s actions in Haiti, however the probe had remained largely dormant whereas Mast was in state jail.
Federal prosecutors “accelerated” their investigation after studying of Mast’s early launch from state jail, based on federal courtroom data.
Holmes County, the place Christian Help Ministries relies, is the hub of one of many nation’s largest Amish settlements and in addition has vital Mennonite and associated church populations.
In 2019, CAM positioned two of its managers on depart amid revelations that they knew as early as 2013 that Mast had confessed to sexual misconduct, but stored him on the job.
CAM’s work in Haiti got here into the worldwide highlight in 2021 when 17 missionaries and their kids have been kidnapped by a gang. They went free later that 12 months, some ransomed by a 3rd get together, CAM acknowledged. CAM stated many of the relaxation escaped.
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