Amish Bishop Admits to Covering up Sex Abuse, Sentenced to Probation

By Wesley Robinson
PennLive.com
September 11, 2017

http://www.pennlive.com/news/2017/09/amish_bishop_admits_to_coverin.html

Six years after failing to report sexual abuse in the Amish community, a local bishop admitted to covering up the allegations.

Christ Stoltzfus was mandated to report the sex abuse allegations under Child Protective Services law but failed to report the abuse in 2011. Stoltzfus, 69, of Roller Road in Mifflin Township, told investigators that he was informed one of the incidents "wasn't really that bad" during an interview in February 2017, according to state police.

A month prior to Stoltzfus' interview with police, a member of Stoltzfus' church told troopers he informed the bishop of the cases of child sexual abuse that occurred in 2011. Both cases involved Daniel Ray Fisher, 44, of Weaver Road in Mifflin Township, records state.

Christ Stoltzfus (Dauphin County district attorney's office)

Fisher was charged in a separate case in November 2016 and again January 2017. He was accused of inappropriately touching a then 5-year-old girl and a then-10-year-old girl in the respective cases.

In one case, Fisher offered to adjust the girl's dress and assaulted her. In the other he asked to see a girl's snow pants and then assaulted her, records state.

During an interview in November, troopers said Fisher began to "sweat profusely" and eventually told the investigators, "You got me," records state.

Because the crime occurred before mandatory reporting law changes in 2014 in response to the Jerry Sandusky scandal, Stoltzfus only faced a third degree misdemeanor and was subsequently sentenced to three months probation.

"It is hoped that if someone is not going to report child abuse for the right reasons, that is helping to protect children, then perhaps they will report for fear of being arrested themselves for neglecting the duty they have to the children they serve." Dauphin County Deputy District Attorney Katie Adam said in a statement.

Anyone who fails to report child abuse would face a felony charge and up to seven years in prison under current laws.