Jury selection is under way for 16 members of an Amish community charged with hate crimes in connection with alleged hair and beard cutting attacks on fellow Amish.

Prosecutors said some of the suspects, including the Bergholz group leader Sam Mullet, cut the hair and beards of Amish men and women last fall.

The alleged crimes happened in several eastern Ohio counties and the trial is being held in Cleveland in federal court.

Jefferson County Sheriff Fred Abdalla said Amish men and women have reached out to him since he and FBI agents arrested Mullet and several of his sons last fall.

"I get calls throughout the week. I got numerous, numerous letters. Amish people are hoping and praying that this man goes to prison because they are totally scared to death of him," Abdalla said.

Mullet and 15 other Amish men and women are charged with hate crimes after they were accused of using horse shears to forcibly cut fellow members' hair.

"That's one reason he's facing trial for these hate crimes. It has nothing to do with religion, that's not religion. You can't categorize all Amish throughout this country with Sam Mullet," Abdalla said.

Prosecutors plan to present evidence that Mullet used "sexual counseling" on Amish women.

"The allegations that are going to be presented to the jury in Cleveland are the fact that the allegations of him sleeping with women out there. Like I say, they are all relatives with the exception of one family," Abdalla said.

The suspects have turned down plea bargains, which would have carried shorter sentences. Some, including Sam Mullet, could face up to 20 years in prison.

"Whether he comes back or not, I don't know, but I know if he ever does come out, the Amish community is going to be scared to death," Abdalla said.

Jury selection is expected to last two days. Stay with NEWS9, WTOV9.com and WTOV9 Mobile for continuing coverage.