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BATES CITY, MO -
Friends and relatives of Burrell Mohler Sr. and his four sons gathered in a Lafayette County courtroom on Tuesday to express their support for the five men who are facing an array of child sexual assault charges, saying that the charges are bogus and fabricated by Burrell Mohler Jr.'s daughters.
On Tuesday, new allegations of kidnapping, murder and sexual assault surfaced against Burrell Edward Mohler Sr., 77, and his four adult sons Burrell Edward Mohler Jr., 53, David A. Mohler, 52, Jared Leroy Mohler, 48, and Roland Neil Mohler, 47.
A sixth suspect, Darrell Mohler, Burrell Mohler Sr.'s brother, is currently being held in a Florida jail.
The accused Mohler men complained to the judge about not being able to hire lawyers, saying that the sheriff was denying them access to debit cards and checks they had with them when they were arrested last week.
So far only one of the accused men, Jared Leroy Mohler, had hired an attorney.
Bill Bruch, a cousin of Burrell Sr.'s first wife, said that he watched the proceedings in disbelief.
"They grew up as fine young men and they were in a family that was caring and loving," said Bruch. "So I had no reason to understand why this was taking place."
David Mohler told the judge that he was being denied paper and a pencil to take notes, has not been allowed to shave or get a haircut and has not been permitted to see his wife or daughter.
Burrell Mohler Sr.'s brother-in-law, Ron Gamble, said that he visited the family often during the time frame of the alleged crimes, and said he doesn't believe the child sex charges are true.
"If these things had been happening when Alice, Burrell senior's wife, was alive, boy, she would have gotten on top of it," said Gamble. "She would have stopped it. She's very religious, very straight. So I can't believe any of this was going on when she was alive."
Mohler Sr. told the judge that the media is now accusing him of murder despite not being charged. Gamble said that aside from the word of the alleged victims, he questions whether there is any physical evidence to support the women's claims.
Jared Mohler will be back in court Dec. 2. The other Mohler men are scheduled to be back in court Dec. 3.
On Tuesday, new allegations of kidnapping, murder and sexual assault surfaced against Burrell Edward Mohler Sr., 77, and his four adult sons Burrell Edward Mohler Jr., 53, David A. Mohler, 52, Jared Leroy Mohler, 48, and Roland Neil Mohler, 47.
A sixth suspect, Darrell Mohler, Burrell Mohler Sr.'s brother, is currently being held in a Florida jail.
The accused Mohler men complained to the judge about not being able to hire lawyers, saying that the sheriff was denying them access to debit cards and checks they had with them when they were arrested last week.
So far only one of the accused men, Jared Leroy Mohler, had hired an attorney.
Bill Bruch, a cousin of Burrell Sr.'s first wife, said that he watched the proceedings in disbelief.
"They grew up as fine young men and they were in a family that was caring and loving," said Bruch. "So I had no reason to understand why this was taking place."
David Mohler told the judge that he was being denied paper and a pencil to take notes, has not been allowed to shave or get a haircut and has not been permitted to see his wife or daughter.
Burrell Mohler Sr.'s brother-in-law, Ron Gamble, said that he visited the family often during the time frame of the alleged crimes, and said he doesn't believe the child sex charges are true.
"If these things had been happening when Alice, Burrell senior's wife, was alive, boy, she would have gotten on top of it," said Gamble. "She would have stopped it. She's very religious, very straight. So I can't believe any of this was going on when she was alive."
Mohler Sr. told the judge that the media is now accusing him of murder despite not being charged. Gamble said that aside from the word of the alleged victims, he questions whether there is any physical evidence to support the women's claims.
Jared Mohler will be back in court Dec. 2. The other Mohler men are scheduled to be back in court Dec. 3.
