A bizarre hair-cutting case in America's secretive Amish community has exposed an alleged tyrant accused of beating up those who stray, locking others up in his chicken coop, and taking sexual advantage of married women.

The leader of a breakaway Amish group, Samuel Mullet, and six other men have been charged with committing and conspiring to commit religious hate crimes.

Authorities raided the group's compound in eastern Ohio on Wednesday and arrested Mullet, 66, along with his sons Johnny, Daniel and Lester, his son-in-law Emanuel Schrock, and followers Levi and Eli Miller.

Several members of the group carried out the attacks in September, October and November by forcefully cutting the beards and hair of Amish men and women and then taking photos of them, authorities said.