Yoder pleads guilty to one count of sexual abuse of a child
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by Matt Johnson
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A 22-year-old rural Hillsboro man pleaded guilty, Monday, to one count of second degree sexual assault of a child.
Isaac Yoder had previously been facing four counts of second degree sexual assault of a child stemming from incidents involving two separate victims between 2001 and 2004.
As part of a plea agreement, Yoder pleaded guilty to the single charge in front of Vernon County Circuit Court Judge Michael Rosborough, who set a sentencing hearing in the case for Dec. 26 at 2:30 p.m. Second degree sexual assault of a child is a class “C” felony punishable by a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison and a $100,000 fine. Yoder has no previous criminal record.
According to the criminal complaint, filed in Vernon County Circuit Court, investigators discovered in May that Yoder allegedly committed numerous sexual acts with minors. The complaint said many incidents involving both boys and girls occurred. The complaint said that one of the victims asked Yoder to stop during the alleged assaults. The assaults occurred when the victims were between the ages of 9 and 11.
Yoder’s younger brother, Simon, 19, faces two counts of second degree sexual assault of a child from similar incidents. A plea hearing in Simon Yoder’s case has been set for Dec. 26 at 2:30 p.m.
An investigation into the Yoder brothers began when the human services department received information “referencing a sexual assault within the Amish community.” The information came from a “mandatory reporter,” or a professional, such as a health care worker, law officer or social worker, who is required by law to report sexual assaults when an incident is discovered. Investigators uncovered allegations of sexual assaults involving a number of people dating back about 12 years. The incidents were alleged to have taken place in both Missouri and Wisconsin.
The counts Isaac Yoder was initially charged with took place after he moved from Missouri to Vernon County in November of 2000.
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Mary Byler
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e-mail me at mary@marybyler.com
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