Page 8 — Thursday, February 15, 2024 — The Hastings Banner
Man receives jail time in another case involving
sex crimes and the Amish community
Greg Chandler
Staff Writer
A 34-year-old Barry County man who is a
member of a local Amish community has
been sentenced to six months in jail for a
sexual assault of a girl in the community 10
years ago, and has apparently confessed to at
least three other assaults, including one on his
own daughter, according to the county prose-
cutor’s office.
William Mullett was sentenced Wednesday
in Barry County court by Judge Michael
Schipper on an attempted second-degree
criminal sexual conduct complaint against
the girl, who is now an adult. He also
received five years of probation and was
placed on the state’s sex offender registry for
life. He received credit for 64 days he has
already served in the county jail.Mullett’s case came to the attention of the
Barry County judicial system in June of last
year after it received a report from Child Pro-
tective Services and law enforcement about
alleged abuses involving children. Mullett’s
wife admitted to investigators that her husband
had sexually touched their 9-year-old daughter,
and Mullett confirmed the story as well, Assis-
tant County Prosecutor Jessica Payne said.
“In my interactions with a lot of members
of the (Amish) community, one of the things
they reiterate – unfortunately, I have done
several of these cases recently – they put a
great emphasis on confession, telling the
truth, admitting what you’ve done to the
community, in order to seek forgiveness,”
Payne said.
Later, another report from CPS came in
where Mullett was accused of sexually touch-ing the daughter of a community member, “a
neighbor girl” and a girl from Ohio. That led
to police making contact with the bishop of
the Amish community, and the bishop con-
firmed the report as true. The “neighbor girl”
was the case in which Mullett was charged
with second-degree CSC involving a minor
under the age of 13, Payne said.
“I do believe he was and is very remorseful
for what he did. He said that he has lustful
thoughts about women ... these young chil-
dren are not grown women. There’s a differ-
ence between having lustful thoughts about
grown women and having those lustful
thoughts for young children. It is not the
same thing,” Payne said, emphasizing the
word “not.”
Mullett pled no contest to a reduced charge
of attempted second-degree CSC. The victimin the case, who did not appear for Wednes-
day’s sentencing, said that she did not want
Mullett prosecuted or jailed for what hap-
pened, Payne said.
Mullett kept his head bowed throughout
the entirety of the 45-minute-long sentencing
hearing, only lifting up his head when Schip-
per asked him if he had anything to say.
“I’m sorry about all this... I want to come
out of this a better person,” Mullett said.
“He is pretty much shaking next to me, I can
feel that. From the time it has started to the
present, I know that he is remorseful. He wish-
es this never had happened. My private con-
versations with him revealed a man that is
deeply ashamed by what happened here,” said
Mullett’s attorney, Lyonel Woolley of Lansing.
“Today is a very sad day. It’s a sad day for
a lot of things. It’s a sad day for his commu-
nity, a sad day for him, a sad day for the vic-
tim ... My client feels that his actions were
reprehensible and should not be admitted or
accepted in any community, wherever that
community may be.”
Woolley went on to say that more than 56
people from the Amish community submitted
letters of support for Mullett. Fifteen people
from the community came to see the sentenc-
ing, walking into the courtroom together and
leaving together.
“They know he has sinned. He has com-
mitted a crime. They want to help him and
help the community heal over this,” Woolley
said.
Before passing sentence, Schipper spoke
of the respect he has for the Amish communi-
ty and its values, but also raised concerns
about how sexual abuse cases are handled in
the community.
“I know with children, one of the things
you stress is tell the truth. You also stress
(that) you do not steal, you do not take from
others,” Schipper said. “When children do
that and they ask for forgiveness, they are
granted forgiveness, as they should do. But
there are also serious consequences for that,
as there should be. I don’t always see that
same thing in your community when men
confess serious sins. They’re forgiven, but
they don’t always see the consequences. I
don’t understand that. I don’t understand
how we have significant consequences for
young children, who we know are going to
make mistakes, and have lesser consequenc-
es for adult men, who should know better
when they make mistakes.”
“Those children and that mom and that
family needs to be protected. Those are the
victims. You can love him and you can help
him when he gets out of jail, but those are the
true victims. They’re the ones that need to be
protected, first and foremost. That’s what I’m
going to do as my role in this,” the judge
added.
In addition to the jail time, probation, and
lifetime registration on the sex offender reg-
istry, Schipper ordered Mullett to complete a
state-endorsed counseling program before
he is allowed to have contact with his chil-
dren once he is released from jail. He is
allowed to receive letters from his children
and have phone conversations with his wife
and children while in jail. Mullett has been
receiving counseling through an Amish-
based mental health organization called Har-
mony Haven, and has also been taking par-
enting classes as well.
Late last year, Payne found herself in a
similar situation, representing the prosecu-
tor’s office in a case against Amish man
Melvin Herschberger of Nashville. He pled
guilty to charges of accosting a child for
immoral purposes, criminal sexual conduct- assault with intent to commit sexual pene-
tration and criminal sexual conduct in the
second degree. The charges were levied
against him after he admitted to sexually
abusing his two daughters over a period of
time.
Herschberger was sent to prison for a min-
imum of three years.
ELECTION NOTICE
To the Qualified Electors of BARRY COUNTY, MICHIGAN
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT A PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY ELECTION WILL BEHELD IN THE COUNTY OF BARRY, STATE OF MICHIGAN
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2024
The polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT THE FOLLOWING WILL BE VOTED ON:County Proposal
MILLAGE RENEWAL PROPOSITION FOR OPERATION OF COUNTY WIDE E-
EMERGENCY ANSWERING AND CENTRAL DISPATCH SYSTEMShall Barry County renew the previously authorized County Wide E-911 Emergency
Answering and Central Dispatch System millage of .9416 mill per year, ($0.9416 per
$1,000 of taxable value) upon all taxable real and personal property in the County and
shall said millage be increased by .0584 mill ($0.0584 per $1,000 of taxable value) to
restore amounts reduced by the Headlee Amendment, resulting in the levy of 1.000 mill
($1.00 per $1,000 of taxable value), for a period of (5) years, 2024 through 2028, both
inclusive, subject to reduction as provided by law?
The purpose of this levy is to provide funding for operation and maintenance of the
County Wide E-911 Emergency Answering and Central Dispatch System.It is estimated that a property located in Barry County with a taxable value of $50,000 will
pay $50 in the first year of the levy.
If approved, it is estimated that the levy of 1.000 mill would provide revenue of $2,822,
in the first calendar year of the levy, of which $164,860 would result from the additional
0.0584 mill. The revenue from this millage will be disbursed to Barry County.
A small portion of the levy within a predefined area of the City of Hastings and Village of
Middleville shall be disbursed to those respective entities DDA’s and LDFA’s. This
amount comes from a predefined area within the City of Hastings and Village of
Middleville only.School Proposal
LAKEWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT
LAKEWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOLS OPERATING MILLAGE RENEWAL PROPOSAL
(Carlton, Castleton & Woodland Townships)This proposal will allow the school district to continue to levy not to exceed 17.973 mills
on all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, required
for the school district to receive its revenue per pupil foundation allowance and renews
millage that will expire with the 2024 tax levy. Shall the currently authorized millage rate
limitation of 17.973 mills ($17.973 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) on the amount of
taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residence and other
property excempted by law, in Lakewood Public Schools, Ionia, Barry, Eaton and Kent
Counties, Michigan, be renewed for a period of 10 years, 2025 to 2034, inclusive to pro-
vide funds for operating purposes; the estimate of the revenue the school district will
collect if the millage is approved and 17.973 mills are levied in 2025 is approximately
$2,055,071 (this is a renewal of millage that will expire with the 2024 tax levy)?Sample ballots may be viewed at http://www.mi.gov/voteCYNTHIA L. WHITE, BARRY COUNTY CLERKASSYRIA TWP.
Assyria Township Hall
8094 Tasker Rd., Bellevue
Clerk: Heather Wing
TX: (269) 758-BALTIMORE TWP.
Baltimore Township Hall
3100 E. Dowling Rd., Hastings
Clerk: Jana Bishop
TX: (269) 721-BARRY TWP.
Barry Township Mtg. Hall
155 E. Orchard St. Delton
Clerk: Deb Knight
TX: (269) 623-CITY OF HASTINGS
WARD 1,2,3 & 4
Baptist Church
309 E. Woodlawn, Hastings
Clerk: Christopher Bever
TX: (269) 945-CARLTON TWP.
Carlton Township Hall
85 Welcome Rd., Hastings
Clerk: Amanda Carothers
TX: (269) 945-CASTLETON TWP.
Castleton Township Hall
915 Reed St., Nashville
Clerk: Marcia Scramlin
TX: (517) 852-HASTINGS CHARTER TWP.
Hastings Charter Twp. Hall
885 River Rd., Hastings
Clerk: Anita Mennell
TX: (269) 948-HOPE TWP.
Hope Township Hall
5463 S. M-43 Hwy., Hastings
Clerk: Deborah Jackson
TX: (269) 948-IRVING TWP.
Irving Township Hall
3425 Wing Rd., Hastings
Clerk: Sharon Olson
TX: (269) 948-JOHNSTOWN TWP.
Johnstown Township Hall
13641 S. M-37 Hwy., Battle Creek
Clerk: Sheri Babcock
TX: (269) 721-MAPLE GROVE TWP.
Maple Grove Township Hall
721 Durkee St., Nashville
Clerk: Holly Carpenter
TX: (517) 490-ORANGEVILLE TWP.
Orangeville Township Hall
7350 Lindsey Rd., Plainwell
Clerk: Melody Risner
TX: (269) 664-PRAIRIEVILLE TWP.
Prairieville Township Hall
10115 S. Norris Rd., Delton
Clerk: Rod Goebel
TX: (269) 623-RUTLAND CHARTER TWP.
Rutland Charter Twp. Hall
2461 Heath Rd., Hastings
Clerk: Robin Hawthorne
TX: (269) 948-THORNAPPLE TWP. PRECINCT 1
Thornapple Twp. Emergency Services
128 High St., Middleville
Clerk: Cindy Ordway
TX: (269) 795-7202 ext. 203THORNAPPLE TWP. PRECINCT 2
Thornapple Twp. Hall
200 E. Main St., Middleville
Clerk: Cindy Ordway
TX: (269) 795-7202 ext. 203THORNAPPLE TWP. PRECINCT 3
Middleville Village Hall
100 E. Main St., Middleville
Clerk: Cindy Ordway
TX: (269) 795-7202 ext. 203WOODLAND TWP.
Woodland Township Hall
156 S. Main St., Woodland
Clerk: Elizabeth Busk
TX: (269) 367-4915 ext. 101YANKEE SPRINGS TWP. PRECINCT 1
Yankee Springs Twp. Hall
284 N. Briggs Rd., Middleville
Clerk: Mike Cunningham
TX: (269) 795-YANKEE SPRINGS TWP. PRECINCT 2
Yankee Springs Fire Station
1425 S. Payne Lake Rd., Wayland
Clerk: Mike Cunningham
TX: (269) 795-ASSYRIA TWP.
BALTIMORE TWP.
MAPLE GROVE TWP.
Baltimore Township Hall
3100 E. Dowling Road, Hastings
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.BARRY TWP. PRAIRIEVILLE TWP.
Barry Township Mtg. Hall
155 E. Orchard St., Delton
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
CARLTON TWP.
CASTLETON TWP.
WOODLAND TWP.
Carlton Township Hall
85 Welcome Road, Hastings
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HOPE TWP.
RUTLAND CHARTER TWP.
2461 Heath Road, Hastings
Rutland Charter Twp. Hall
Hours: 9:00 a.m.to 5:00 p.m.CITY OF HASTINGS
WARDS 1, 2, 3 & 4
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Irving Township Hall
3425 Wing Rd., Hastings
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Johnstown Township Hall
13641 S. M-37 Hwy, Battle Creek
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.ORANGEVILLE TWP.
Orangeville Township Hall
7350 Lindsey Rd., Plainwell
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.THORNAPPLE TWP.
PRECINTS 1, 2 & 3
Thornapple Twp. Hall
200 E. Main St., Middleville
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.YANKEE SPRINGS TWP. PRECINTS 1 & 2
Yankee Springs Twp. Hall
284 N. Briggs Rd., Middleville
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CLERK’S OFFICETHE PLACES HOLDING THE ELECTION IN SAID MUNICIPALITIES ARE INDICATED BELOW:FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING CANDIDATES FOR THE FOLLOWING OFFICES:
PARTISAN OFFICE TO BE NOMINATED:
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATESEARLY VOTING SITES AND POLL HOURS AS INDICATED BELOW:
Early Voting for all Statewide and Federal Elections, Qualified Voters may vote beginning the second Saturday before an election and ending the Sunday before the election.“I don't always see that
same thing in your
community when men
confess serious sins.
They're forgiven, but
they don't always see
the consequences. I
don't understand that.”
— Judge Michael
SchipperFollow The
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