Couple charged in Amish kidnapping pleads guilty

Booking photos of Stephen Howells II (left) and Nicole Vaisey. Source: St. Lawrence County Sheriff's Office.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The second half of a St. Lawrence County couple has pleaded guilty to charges in connection to the kidnapping of two Amish sisters near Ogdensburg, N.Y. in August.

Nicole Vaisey, 25, reportedly pled guilty Thursday in a Syracuse courtroom to 10 felony charges.

It comes days after Stephen Howells II pleaded guilty to 21 criminal charges, which include conspiracy to sexually exploit children.

Howells, 39, and girlfriend Vaisey, 25, were charged after the two Amish sisters, ages seven and 12, were snatched from a farm stand in Heuvelton, south of Ogdensburg, N.Y. on Aug. 13, 2014.

The abduction triggered a massive search across the north country before they were found.

In an earlier report from Time Warner Cable News, if the couple pleads guilty, they would be looking at 580- and 300-year sentences respectively for Howells and Vaisey.

The guilty pleas mean the girls will not have to testify, according to St. Lawrence County District Attorney Mary Rain.

Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 25.

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