EBENSBURG, Pa. — Two Amish farmers who said their religious convictions prevented them from disposing of outhouse waste according to state sewage laws appealed their jail sentences.

Andy Swartzentruber and Sam Yoder were convicted of two summary violations and sentenced last month to 3 months in jail. They turned down a chance to perform community service or pay a fine to avoid jail time.

James Stratton, an attorney representing Swartzentruber and Yoder, said the sentences were excessive and violated the men's constitutional rights to freedom of religion.

A judge could also decide to hear an appeal on the convictions.

Swartzentruber, 52, and Yoder, 53, had until July 21 to appeal the sentence or report to jail.

The outhouses were used by children who attended an Amish school on property owned by Swartzentruber. Yoder is a school elder.

Waste from the outhouses had been collected in plastic buckets, then dumped onto fields. The county was demanding the Amish install a holding tank and contract with a certified sewage hauler for disposal.