Home / Crime and Justice / Ex-Missionary Pleads Guilty to Abusing Boys in Haiti
Ex-Missionary Pleads Guilty to Abusing Boys in Haiti
9 Sep
Summary
- Former missionary Jeriah Mast admitted to sexually abusing two boys in Haiti.
- Mast faces a potential sentence of 25 to 33 years in federal prison.
- His case highlights abuse issues within Anabaptist communities.
Jeriah Mast, a 45-year-old former missionary from Millersburg, Ohio, has pleaded guilty to federal charges involving the sexual abuse of two boys in Haiti. This plea agreement, reached with prosecutors, suggests a sentencing range of 25 to 33 years, with the final decision resting with the judge. Mast's involvement with mission work in Haiti spanned from 2002 to 2019, including several years with Christian Aid Ministries, an organization supported by Amish and conservative Mennonite groups.
The case has shed light on concerns regarding sexual abuse within Anabaptist communities. Advocates note that a strong emphasis on forgiveness within these closed religious groups can sometimes pressure victims not to pursue external prosecution. Mast's guilty plea pertains to abuse cases from 2004 and 2011 involving minors between 12 and 16 years old.
This is not Mast's first conviction; he previously received a nine-year sentence in 2019 for state charges involving the abuse of two boys in Ohio. He was granted early release from state prison in October 2025, an event that accelerated the federal investigation into his actions abroad. The federal charges are based on U.S. law prohibiting citizens from engaging in illicit sexual conduct overseas.
