America the Messy Yard Police StateMessy yard cops bust Amish farmer for outhouse!SourceAmish Pennsylvania Farmer Jailed for 90 Days Over Outhouses Tuesday, March 17, 2009 EBENSBURG, Pa. — A western Pennsylvania Amish farmer was ordered to spend 90 days in jail after refusing to bring a pair of outhouses into compliance with state sewage laws. Andy Swartzentruber, of Ebensburg, cites his conservative religious beliefs for refusing to abide by a court order to make the privies used by schoolchildren compliant and pay a $500 fine. He was led away by a sheriff's deputy after Cambria County Judge Norman Krumenacker on Tuesday upheld a contempt of court ruling. The dispute dates back a couple of years. Krumenacker says he had no choice but to sentence Swartzentruber to jail and pay a $1,000 fine. He also ordered the Amish school and outhouse padlocked. Swartzentruber can be released early if he complies within the 90 days. Pa. Amish farmer gets jailtime in outhouse dispute By GENARO C. ARMAS – 21 hours ago EBENSBURG, Pa. (AP) — A western Pennsylvania Amish farmer has been sentenced to 90 days in jail after refusing to bring a pair of outhouses into compliance with state sewage laws. A Cambria County judge on Tuesday upheld a contempt of court ruling against Andy Swartzentruber (SWART'-zen-troober) and ordered him to pay a $1,000 fine. The judge also ordered the Amish school and outhouse on Swartzentruber's property to be padlocked. The Ebensburg resident cited his conservative religious beliefs in refusing to abide by an earlier court order to make the schoolchildren's privies compliant with state law and pay a $500 fine. The county claimed waste from grade-schoolers was collected in buckets and dumped on fields. Swartzentruber can be released early if he complies within the 90 days. Published: March 17, 2009 02:48 pm Amish man jailed for failing to have school outhouses meet sewage regulations The Tribune-Democrat EBENSBURG — An Amish man who is a member of an ultra-conservative sect shunning modern ways was sent to Cambria County Prison this afternoon for 90 days for failing to bring two school outhouses into compliance with municipal sewage regulations. Judge Norman Krumenacker ruled that Andy Swartzentruver failed to purge himself of contempt by not meeting the requirements. He owns the property on which the school is situated. The judge also ordered Sheriff Bob Kolar to padlock the school and the two outhouses. Krumenacker warned that if anyone attempted to break the padlocks , they would be held charged with trespass and brought before the court. For further details, see Thursday’s Tribune-Democrat Amish man given 90 days in jail for outhouse violations Schoolhouse will remain padlocked until corrections are made David Hurst POSTED: March 17, 2009 "Amish man given 90 days in jail for outhouse violations" EBENSBURG -- A Cambria Amish man was given 90 days in jail Tuesday after failing to bring his property's schoolhouse up to par. After months attempting to work out a deal with Andy Swartzentruber of Barr Township and his conservative sect, Judge Norman Krumenacker ordered the sentence and said the school and its outhouses will be padlocked until violations are corrected. The Amish man accepted the sentence in court, saying his religious beliefs prevented him from making several changes and applying for a sewage permit. But Krumenacker said their issue seemed to be with regulations and said he had the publics saftey to consider. Swartzentruber was also fined $1,000. The judge said he could be released sooner if sewage treatment issues are addressed. For complete details, see the story in Wednesdays Mirror. |
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