Home / Crime and Justice / Ohio Missionary Accused of Abusing 4 Children in Haiti
Ohio Missionary Accused of Abusing 4 Children in Haiti
4 Dec
Summary
- Former missionary Jeriah Mast indicted for abusing four minors in Haiti.
- Mast admitted to abusing about 30 victims in Haiti and more in Ohio.
- He previously served prison time for abuse in Ohio and was recently released.
A former missionary with ties to an Ohio-based ministry, Jeriah Mast, faces federal charges for allegedly engaging in illicit sexual conduct with four minors in Haiti over several years. The indictment covers a period between 2002 and 2019, during which Mast made multiple visits to Haiti. Authorities report that Mast has admitted to abusing around 30 victims in Haiti and additional individuals in Ohio.
This case is not Mast's first legal battle; he previously served prison time in Ohio after pleading guilty to sexually abusing two minors there. He received an early judicial release in October after serving nearly six years and is currently on supervised probation. Court records noted his exemplary behavior and remorse as factors in his release, pending these new federal charges.
The federal charges stem from a U.S. law prohibiting citizens from engaging in illicit sexual conduct abroad. Mast's actions in Haiti came to light in 2019, leading to an investigation that uncovered his extensive admissions. The case has also drawn attention to issues of sexual abuse within Amish and related conservative religious communities.
