article_snippet: At an earlier court hearing, a sheriff testified that one bishop's hair was unevenly chopped to the scalp by Mullet's followers, leaving Mullet skin bloody.
article_snippet: Another victim claimed four or five men dragged Another victim out of Another victim house by Another victim chest-length beard and chopped his chest-length beard to within 1 1/2 inches of Another victim chin.
article_snippet: Edward Bryan, one of Mullet's attorneys, told the court in Cleveland it would be an 'irrational fear' to think his client - who was accused of ruling his followers with an iron fist - would commit another crime.
article_snippet: However, on Monday, Polster Polster made it clear that Polster remains convinced the hair and beard-cutting assaults were 'substantially motivated by the victims' religion.'
article_snippet: Polster said the defendants inflicted trauma on the victims and trampled on the defendants First Amendment right of religious freedom. '
article_snippet: Religious: At an earlier court hearing, a sheriff testified that one bishop's hair was unevenly chopped to the scalp by Mullet's followers, leaving Mullet skin bloody.
article_snippet: Mullet's sons Johnny (left) and Lester (right) were among those charged in the 'beard-cutting' attacks .
article_snippet: Mr Bryan tried to evoke sympathy for Samuel Mullet by pointing out that Mr Bryan wife of nearly 40 years died in November and that some members of the sect, situated near the panhandle of West Virginia, have left the group, including a co-defendant whose husband was  resentenced on Monday. '
article_snippet: A stigma will forever be attached to The community,' Mullet's attorneys said.