Amish Charged in Beard Cutting Attacks Reject Plea Bargains - WTRF 7 News Sports Weather - Wheeling Steubenville

The 16 people being charged in beard and hair cutting attacks on fellow Amish in Ohio have rejected plea bargains and will go to trial next moth.

The defendants argue the attack was not apart of hate crimes but internal church matters not involving anti-Amish bias.

The defendants acknowledged in court Monday in Cleveland that they understand the risks of going to trial which include prison terms if convicted.

The plea bargains would have given the defendants sentences of two or three years instead of the possibility of 20 years or more.