Two brothers who avoided jail time for impregnating their younger sister are back in court after they reportedly violated their probation by contacting the victim.
Petie Schwartz, 18, and Aaron Schwartz, 22, returned to Webster County Courthouse after prosecutor Ben Berkstresser filed a motion accusing the Amish brothers of violating their probation.
The two pleaded guilty to two counts of third-degree child molestation and were handed sentences to 15 years in jail. However, they were spared prison time after pleading guilty to downgraded charges.
Aaron, Petie, and two of their younger brothers had repeated sexual acts with their younger sister, who was 12 at that time.
The Schwartzes were barred from having any contact with their sister, but the prosecutor said they violated their probation by making contact with the victim.
The brothers’ defense lawyer, Will Worsham, said that ‘there has been no actual contact with the victim,’ Springfield News-Leader reported.
Worsham also said that after meeting with the probation officer, the brothers moved to another area of the property to make sure that there was no contact with their sister.
The lawyer also noted that the probation officer’s report indicated that the brothers don’t live with their sister.
The county prosecutor, Berkstresser, revealed that the victim gave birth in late August and one of the brothers is the father of the baby.
Petie and Aaron were initially charged with one felony count of incest and six felony counts of statutory rape. They were then offered a plea deal for two charges of third-degree child molestation.
To keep out of jail, the brothers are required to complete the Missouri Sex Offender Treatment Program and must perform 100 hours of community service.
They also need to write an apology letter to Seymour’s Amish community.
In September, Berstresser said that he knew the punishment would seem lax given the initial charge.
“In the end, this wasn’t a case of a parent and child, where a parent in a position of authority sexually abused or exploited their child. This was a situation where four siblings engaged in acts with their sister. I offered a 15-year prison sentence based on this … it was a different relationship.
“And I made the decision not to send them to the DOC, to suspend the sentences.
He added: “These two young men would’ve been eaten alive in the state prison system.”
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Replaced!