Former Ohio Missionary Indicted on Federal Charges of Child Sexual Abuse in Haiti
Jamaica Live International News– | Dec 27, 2025
A federal grand jury in the Northern District of Ohio has indicted Jeriah Mast, a 44-year-old former missionary from Ohio, on four counts of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with minors in Haiti. The indictment, announced by the U.S. Department of Justice, alleges that the offenses occurred during Mast’s repeated mission trips to the Caribbean nation over a 17-year period.
According to prosecutors, Mast traveled to Haiti more than 30 times between 2002 and 2019, frequently through his association with Christian Aid Ministries (CAM). Each of the four federal counts corresponds to a different minor victim, with alleged abuse occurring in 2004, 2007, and twice in 2011.
The federal case follows Mast’s 2019 conviction in Ohio state court on related child sex abuse charges. In that case, authorities said Mast confessed to harming approximately 30 to 31 boys in Haiti. He was sentenced to nine years in prison and required to register as a sex offender. Mast was granted early judicial release in October 2025 after serving nearly six years and was taken into custody on the new federal charges shortly after his release.
Court records from the earlier state case describe Mast’s confession as a key factor in his sentencing. During those proceedings, the judge underscored the long-term harm caused to victims and criticized what was described as a failure by others to act sooner, potentially allowing further abuse to occur.
The indictment also renews scrutiny of Christian Aid Ministries. In 2019, CAM placed two leaders on administrative leave after reports indicated they had been aware of allegations involving Mast as early as 2013 but allowed him to continue working in his role. The revelations sparked broader concern about oversight and safeguarding practices within missionary and humanitarian organizations operating abroad.
According to Ministry Watch, Mast provided a list of the Haitian children he had abused, and Guyton began interviewing the victims in Haiti, who confirmed Mast’s abuse. Victim 1 was about 13 years old when the abuse began in 2004. Guyton’s affidavit contains graphic descriptions of the alleged abuse.
Christian Aid Ministries admitted in a letter in 2019 that two of its managers had knowledge of Mast’s sexual abuse of minors as early as 2013 after he admitted to sexual activity with boys under the age of 18. They were later placed on administrative leave pending an investigation.
The board of Christian Aid Ministries agreed to provide assistance for confirmed Haitian victims, including at least $420,000 in payments to victims for housing, business start-up funding, relocation costs, and vocational training.
In May 2020, Christian Aid Ministries announced it had reached a settlement agreement in a civil case brought by Haitian sexual abuse victims.
In order to prevent such cases in the future, the ministry said it was working to improve its hiring process and supervision of staff.
“Current efforts are focused on more robust background checks and screening. [Christian Aid Ministries] is also strengthening current whistleblower and accountability programs. To accomplish these goals, [Christian Aid Ministries] will provide updated training to employees on how to take more effective action should they become aware of inappropriate behavior or abuse,” the ministry said.
According to its website, Christian Aid Ministries is still working in Haiti, including assisting victims of Hurricane Melissa.
In the MinistryWatch database, Christian Aid Ministries has an A Transparency Grade, and financial efficiency rating of 5 Stars. It has a Donor Confidence Score of 96.
If convicted on the current federal charges, Mast faces up to 30 years in prison and fines of up to US$250,000 for each count, as well as the possibility of lifetime supervised release. The case is being prosecuted under Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative aimed at combating the sexual exploitation and abuse of children.
Authorities emphasized that an indictment is an allegation, and Mast is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. However, the case highlights ongoing concerns about the exploitation of vulnerable children in crisis-affected countries and the responsibility of organizations to implement and enforce strict child-protection safeguards.