FOWLER, N.Y. – An investigator says a northern New York couple used a dog to lure two Amish sisters from their family farm stand with a plan to turn them into slaves.

St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Sgt. Brooks Bigwarfe said Nicole Vaisey admitted she and boyfriend Stephen Howells Jr. got the girls to their car with an offer to pet the dog and he shoved the 7-year-old and 12-year-old sisters in.

Bigwarfe said she told him they shackled the girls and intended to turn them into slaves. He said they were frightened by news reports and released the girls about 24 hours later.

Fowler Justice Paul Lamson ruled Thursday there’s reasonable cause to believe Vaisey committed felony kidnapping. He ordered her held without bail.

District Attorney Mary Rain said the children were sexually abused by the “sexual predators.”

Defense attorney Bradford Riendeau said Vaisey was Howells’ slave.

Howells waived his right to a hearing.


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