A former Ohio missionary pleaded guilty on Tuesday to federal charges of sexually abusing two boys in Haiti, with prosecutors seeking a prison sentence of at least 25 years. Jeriah Mast, 45, of Millersburg, Ohio, entered the plea before Judge Donald C. Nugent in federal court in Cleveland. The agreement between Mast and prosecutors specifies a recommended sentence range of 25 to 33 years, though the judge will determine the final sentence. Sentencing is scheduled for December 15.
Mast admitted to abusing two boys in Haiti, one in 2004 and another in 2011, with both victims between the ages of 12 and 16 at the time of the abuse. The charges stem from an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Cleveland, with assistance from the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office. Mast was arrested in November 2023, shortly after his early release from an Ohio state prison sentence for a prior sexual abuse conviction.
Core Facts of the Case
Mast traveled to Haiti more than 30 times between 2002 and 2019 as part of his work with Christian Aid Ministries, a Millersburg-based organization that coordinates missionary activities for Amish, conservative Mennonite, and related church groups. During a 2019 police interview, Mast reportedly confessed to molesting more than 30 boys in Haiti and four children in Ohio. Federal prosecutors indicted him in December 2023 on four counts of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign place, alleging abuse in 2004, 2007, and 2011.
Official Responses and Legal Proceedings
In a statement, Tysen Duva, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, emphasized the severity of the crimes, stating that Mast’s actions represented a “profound betrayal of trust” given his role as a missionary. Duva added that the guilty plea reflects the department’s commitment to holding U.S. citizens accountable for exploiting children abroad.
Mast’s case has also drawn attention to broader concerns about sexual abuse within conservative Anabaptist communities, which include Old Order Amish and Mennonite groups. Advocates note that these communities often emphasize forgiveness and reconciliation, sometimes pressuring victims to avoid seeking prosecution outside religious disciplinary processes. Mast’s prior conviction in Ohio involved abuse within this community context.
Background and Scope of Abuse
Mast’s guilty plea covers only a portion of the alleged abuse. While he admitted to molesting two boys in Haiti, his 2019 confession included claims of abusing dozens more in the country, as well as four children in Ohio. The federal indictment specifically referenced abuse in 2004, 2007, and 2011, though the plea agreement finalized charges related only to the 2004 and 2011 incidents. Prosecutors have not provided further details on the remaining allegations.
Christian Aid Ministries has not publicly commented on Mast’s case, and the organization’s leadership has not responded to requests for statements. The case remains under review by federal authorities, with no additional charges filed as of the latest court proceedings.