Former Ohio missionary pleads guilty to abusing Haitian boys, faces up to 33 years
Jeriah Mast, a former Ohio missionary, entered a guilty plea in Cleveland federal court for sexually abusing two minors in Haiti, with a sentencing range of 25 to 33 years.
In a federal courtroom in Cleveland, former missionary Jeriah Mast pleaded guilty to federal offenses for sexually abusing two boys in Haiti, with prosecutors recommending a prison term between 25 and 33 years. The plea addresses abuse incidents from 2004 and one of two 2011 cases; prosecutors will seek dismissal of the remaining two charges, though Mast acknowledged their factual basis. Mast, previously sentenced to nine years in Ohio state court for similar crimes, was granted early release in October 2025, after which federal authorities revived the investigation.
The case highlights broader concerns about sexual misconduct within plain-dressing Anabaptist communities, where victims often feel pressured to avoid legal action. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva described the plea as a step toward justice for the victims. The judge will determine the final sentence on Dec. 15.
