Amish sect leader Sam Mullet, locked up for five months on federal hate crimes charges, keeps trying to get out of jail and made another attempt this week with a new argument.

With his detention order already pending before a federal appellate court, he asked a federal judge in Cleveland to reconsider the original order holding him until trial because he says he now has enough money to post a "significant" bond to guarantee his appearance.

Mr. Mullet, 66, under indictment with 15 followers on charges of orchestrating a series of beard-cutting attacks in Ohio last year, said in a court papers Monday that he recently received proceeds from an oil and gas lease on his 800-acre farm in Bergholz, outside Steubenville, Ohio.

He and his public defender, Ed Bryan, said the lease proceeds have been enough for Mr. Mullet to pay off the farm.

Without any debts, they said he now has money to post a sizable bond and can also offer the farm itself to secure his release. The property consists of many buildings, including Mr. Mullet's barn, his wife's store and a schoolhouse, as well as the homes of family members and followers.

Mr. Mullet's newfound wealth came up last month in a separate proceeding when U.S. District Judge Dan Polster ordered that he must pay for the cost of his defense because he no longer qualifies for a lawyer at government expense. Mr. Mullet elected to retain Mr. Bryan at $125 an hour.

The judge has twice ruled that Mr. Mullet will remain behind bars until he goes on trial, siding with the Justice Department that he is a danger to society.

The FBI has said Mr. Mullet has complete control over his community, which is comprised almost entirely of his relatives and their families.

Mr. Bryan's appeal is pending before the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

First Published: April 25, 2012, 4:15 a.m.
Updated: April 25, 2012, 4:20 a.m.