A 22-year-old man has been charged with torturing three elderly women in an act of "rage" against the Mennonite faith Friday at a Clay Township home, police said.

Dereck Taylor Holt allegedly used a stun gun-like device on the women, ages 84 to 90, and punched them, according to Northern Lancaster County Regional police. He then bound their hands and feet with tape, covered their faces and ransacked the house, investigators said.

Investigators allege Holt terrorized the women for at least two hours, during which time he indicated he previously had been a member of the Mennonite community and has anger for its members since he left the faith, officials said.

During the assault, he read various Bible passages and then vandalized the women's Bible, police said.

Chief David Steffen said Saturday that police believed the women were targeted solely because of their faith and not as individuals.

Holt, who had entered the home posing as an insurance salesman, eventually fled the residence in the 300 block of Indiantown Road, leaving the victims bound. Authorities said a relative discovered the women about four hours later.

All three were hospitalized with injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening. It was unknown if they remained hospitalized Sunday.

Authorities reported Saturday night that they had a suspect in custody and on Sunday filed myriad charges against Holt.

The charges include three counts each of aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, ethnic intimidation, unlawful restraint and false imprisonment. Holt also is charged with one count each of robbery, burglary and theft.

He was arraigned by District Judge Janice Jimenez and committed to Lancaster County Prison in lieu of $1 million bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday before District Judge Tony Russell.

Investigators on Sunday released no other details about the incident or the suspect. Police have scheduled a news conference for this afternoon.

Holt is a 2008 graduate of Hempfield High School, newspaper records show.

According to his Facebook page, he attended Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, N.C., where he studied religion and philosophy. Holt lists his home as Rimrock, Ariz., and he appears to be a cycling and outdoor enthusiast.

Posted on his page are photos of his dog, his family and his friends. Also among the photos is a picture of a blue Dodge Durango, under the title "New Truck." Police had said that the man they were looking for in connection with Friday's assault was driving that color, make and model of vehicle.

On Indiantown Road on Sunday, some neighbors of the victims were hesitant to talk about the incident.

Just down the street at Indiantown Mennonite Church, Pastor Jay Weaver, however, said he knows the women involved in the incident, although they don't attend that church.

Police said the assailant targeted the three women because they were Mennonite, but Weaver said people there don't feel threatened.

"I don't think we feel we're in any danger," he said Sunday evening. "We don't have any special services planned.

"We have a special prayer for them and their families," he added. "But I don't think there's anything other than that that we can really do."

It's important not to overreact, Weaver said.

"We believe in God as the higher power. Praying to him will do more good than anything we can do," he said. "Not that we're not available if we're needed ... but we're not in a panic."

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