MARSHFIELD, Mo. (AP) -- Four Amish men described by a southwest Missouri prosecutor as "bishops" have been charged with failing to report suspected child sexual abuse by a member of their community.
The four men, from the town of Seymour, were charged Tuesday with one misdemeanor count apiece. They were not arrested and will receive summonses to appear in Webster County Circuit Court.
Their lawyer, Will Worsham of Springfield, says the men are not paid clergy and it's not clear Missouri's mandatory reporting law applies to the them.
The charges stem from last month's arrest of Johnny A. Schwartz, also of Seymour, on six felony counts of sexually abusing children. He remains jailed on $150,000 bond. His wife, Fannie Schwartz, is out on bond after being charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
