Ohio missionary pleads guilty to abusing minors on Haiti trips

Jeriah Mast, a 45-year-old Ohio missionary, pleaded guilty to two federal counts of sexually abusing minors during repeated trips to Haiti between 2002 and 2019, including while working with Christian Aid Ministries. Prosecutors said flight records showed he traveled to Haiti more than 30 times, and the case involved abuse of boys; Mast had previously been convicted in Ohio and sentenced to nine years in prison for similar conduct. Under the federal plea agreement, prosecutors will recommend a sentence of 25 to 33 years, with sentencing scheduled for Dec. 15, 2026. Christian Aid Ministries fired Mast in 2019 and placed two managers on leave amid allegations they failed to properly investigate his conduct. Justice Department officials called the abuse a betrayal of trust and said the case demonstrates that U.S. citizens can be prosecuted for exploiting children abroad.