Millersburg Man Indicted on Federal Child Abuse Charges in Haiti

A federal indictment filed in the Northern District of Ohio on December 2, 2025 charges Jeriah Mast, 44, of Millersburg with four counts of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with minors in Haiti. The indictment alleges that Mast traveled from the United States to Haiti on multiple occasions between 2002 and 2019, and that the separate counts each relate to alleged abuse of a different minor during those visits.

Court documents cited in the federal investigation relied in part on flight records that investigators said show Mast took more than 30 flights from the United States to Haiti between November 2002 and August 2018. The papers also note that some of the trips included travel with Christian Aid Ministries. Mast was arrested on the federal charges on November 5, and the Justice Department emphasized the seriousness of the alleged offenses and the commitment to prosecute crimes against vulnerable children vigorously.

The case involves a coordinated investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, the Northern District of Ohio U.S. Attorney’s Office, and local law enforcement in Holmes County. Federal prosecution of crimes that allegedly occurred abroad underscores the broad reach of statutes aimed at protecting minors and signals that local residents will see these matters handled at the federal level rather than solely as a local criminal matter.

For Holmes County the indictment brings immediate local relevance. Mast is a Millersburg resident, and the involvement of a locally known individual with alleged conduct tied to international travel places attention on how community institutions screen and supervise volunteers who travel with faith based organizations. The reference to Christian Aid Ministries is likely to prompt questions from congregations and civic groups about policies, record keeping, and reporting procedures for suspected abuse.

Beyond institutional scrutiny, the case is likely to affect civic trust and encourage residents to seek clarity from elected officials and prosecutors about safeguards and supports for survivors. The indictment initiates a federal legal process that will play out in court, and it will test local and federal agencies commitment to transparency and accountability as the matter moves forward.