CANTON, N.Y. (TheBlaze/AP) — Two young Amish sisters were sexually abused after they were abducted from a roadside farm stand in northern New York, a prosecutor said.
St. Lawrence County District Attorney Mary Rain disclosed the alleged abuse Saturday — a day after a couple was charged with first-degree kidnapping in the case.
Stephen Howells Jr. and Nicole Vaisey were prowling for easy targets and may have planned to abduct other children, the county's sheriff said.
These images provided by the St. Lawrence County Sheriff's Office shows the booking photo of Stephen Howells II, left, and Nicole Vaisey, who was arraigned late Friday Aug. 15, 2014 on charges they intended to physically harm or sexually abuse two Amish sisters after abducting them from a roadside farm stand. (Image source: AP/St. Lawrence County Sheriff)
The 7-year-old and 12-year-old sisters were abducted Wednesday in Oswegatchie and set free by their captors Thursday; the Associated Press generally does not identify people who may be victims of sexual abuse.
The suspects are being held without bail, the Associated Press reported. A preliminary court appearance is scheduled for Thursday.
A lawyer for Vaisey said they're reviewing the evidence. There was no answer at the law office representing Howells.
