Amish defendants in Ohio hair and beard-cutting case to be sentenced CLEVELAND (Reuters) - An Ohio Amish sect leader and 15 of his followers are scheduled to be sentenced in a Cleveland federal court on Friday for their roles in hair and beard-cutting attacks on members of other Amish communities in 2011. Prosecutors have recommended a life sentence for Samuel Mullet Sr., 67, who was convicted of a hate crime in September for orchestrating the five attacks on six Amish men and two women, although he was not present for any of them. "There is no doubt that Mullet wanted, agreed with and encouraged all of these attacks," prosecutors said in a court filing. The sentencing hearing began at 9 a.m. local time on Friday and was expected to take several hours. Mullet and members of his Bergholz, Ohio, community were convicted of multiple counts under the Federal Hate Crime statute, including conspiracy and kidnapping for attacks prosecutors said were motivated by religious disputes between Mullet and other Amish leaders. The Amish are known for their plain dress and shunning of technology. Amish women and married Amish men do not cut their hair or beards, because they are symbols of living a religious life. Victims of the attack testified they were restrained and had their hair forcibly cut using scissors, clippers, shears and battery-operated razors. The followers then brought the beard and head hair back to show Mullet. Defense attorneys are disputing the nature and seriousness of the crimes, arguing that the attacks were a result of personal, not religious, disputes and that the offenses do not deserve the lengthy sentences proposed by the government. The defense's arguments for leniency included numerous letters from family and business acquaintances telling of the hardships the Bergholz community has endured without the seven adult men during the winter. One Mullet supporter wrote, "The picture the rest of the world is trying to paint of him is not the Samuel Mullet I know." An attorney for defendant Lester Miller told the court the defendants' children will be most affected by the loss of their parents -- since sons in Amish communities serve as apprentices to their fathers. Prosecutors also submitted 14 handwritten letters from members of the Amish community expressing fear for Bergholz community children and supporting a lengthy or life sentence for Mullet. Nine of the male defendants are currently in prison, while one male and all six female defendants have remained free. The U.S. Attorney's office recommended lighter sentences for Mullet's 15 followers and suggested that family members serve at different times in order to care for the defendants' 50 children. The sentences will be imposed by U.S. District Judge Dan Polster. Reporting By Kim Palmer; Editing by Mary Wisniewski; Editing by Dan Grebler