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Thank-you gathering Friday in Heuvelton for those who helped recover kidnapped Amish girls

Posted 9/18/14

HEUVELTON -- Just one day after federal authorities charged the alleged Hermon kidnappers for producing child pornography, a “community thank you gathering” will be held Friday to recognize those …

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Thank-you gathering Friday in Heuvelton for those who helped recover kidnapped Amish girls

Posted

HEUVELTON -- Just one day after federal authorities charged the alleged Hermon kidnappers for producing child pornography, a “community thank you gathering” will be held Friday to recognize those who aided in the recovery of two Amish girls abducted last month.

The event will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Heuvelton Fire Hall, located at 95 State Street in Heuvelton. The invitation was extended to media, police, firefighters and other who helped locate the children who were abducted in August.

Stephen M. Howells II, 39, and Nicole F. Vaisey, 25, both of Hermon, were charged Thursday with conspiracy to sexually exploit children and sexual exploitation of children in U.S. District Court in Syracuse.

St. Lawrence County sheriff’s deputies also charged the pair with kidnapping two young Amish girls in August.

Last month, deputies said the girls were lured by Howells who used a dog to get them close to his vehicle and then forcefully pushed them inside. The girls were tending a vegetable stand at their home.

Howells and Vaisey apparently released the girls after seeing reports of the missing girls on new media.

The sisters were apparently dropped off in a residential area in Richville and fled to a nearby home. A man then brought the girls home, according to the sheriff’s office.

For more information on the charges filed by federal authorities today, see story.