An Amish man in Adams County is behind bars, accused of having sex with three of his daughters. Nicole Pence has been investigating this case for the past two-weeks, and Friday, a major development. She reports with this exclusive.
Charges were filed by the Adams County Prosecutor against 55-year old Andy Eicher of Berne Friday morning. Police arrested the Amish man late afternoon on five felony counts. Officers say Eicher molested and had sex with three of his daughters, several times. We warn you, some of this information is graphic.
Indiana’s news enter has learned that Eicher has been the center of a child molestation investigation for the last six months…since last October.
According to court papers, Eicher’s 16-year old daughter confided to her neighbor, Cherie Dailey, that her father, apparently, began "touching her in a sexual manner", as early as age five...”mainly" when she was helping with chores in the family barn."
The papers show that the daughter also told police her father had "intercourse with her on more than 20-occasions"... And that two other daughters told police similar stories.
During their investigation, officers also interviewed the Amish man's bishop, who said, the "defendant, Andy Eicher, had already confessed his sins to god..." Neighbor Cherie Dailey, who's also interviewed in the court papers, was fearful police wouldn't act.
Cherie Dailey: "The Church was not qualified to handle it and no one was above the law because of their religion...It is so rampant in the Amish community and someone needs to break the cycle and bring it out and hold people accountable so these girls will not be ashamed."
Those papers went on to show that in a interview with police in November. An officer said Andy Eicher did not deny the incest or molestation allegations, but "said he did not remember doing so."
Tthere is no mug shot of Andy Eicher available at this time. The Adams County Sheriff says he's evoked his religious right not to be photographed.
Why did the prosecutor and police wait six months to charge or arrest him? The prosecutor Chris Harvey tells me they were being very deliberate in building a strong case against Eicher.
Do we know the status of the other children? Are they still in the home? We know that Child Protective Services of Adams County is involved.
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