HAMMOND — Charges have been dropped against all Amish men accused of building code violations.

Town Justice Lisa A. Proven, who dismissed citations April 15 against Joseph Swartzentruber, cited much of the same paperwork shortcomings May 1 when dropping charges against Henry D. Mast and John Joseph Swartzentruber, who were facing accusations of building houses without permits.

A charge against Dannie Swartzentruber for building a chimney without a permit also was dropped, according to Town Court.

Code enforcement officers failed to provide depositions and statements of fact with tickets issued to the men. That information is required in all criminal cases. Justice Proven cited two state cases that categorized town ordinance violations as crimes.

Similar charges against 10 Amish men in Morristown will not be dropped for that reason. Those citations included the paperwork.

Town Justice James T. Phillips Jr. is considering a motion to drop the charges on a number of grounds, including the Amish claim that the town ordinances violate their religious belief to shun modernization.