More charges are expected this week against a St. Lawrence county couple who allegedly kidnapped two Amish girls. Police gathered evidence Sunday at the Hermon, NY, home of 39 year-old Stephen Howells II and 25 year-old Nicole Vaisey. Hermon is about a dozen miles south of Canton.

Howells and Vaisey were arrested Friday night following a massive search and investigation. They are charged with 1st degree kidnapping with intent to harm the two Amish girls, ages 6 and 12. They're in St. Lawrence County jail without bail.

The abduction happened Wednesday evening when the girls came out to attend to their family's roadside vegetable stand. The girls were set free about 24 hours later. But the prosecutor in the case says that was not before they were sexually assaulted.

DA says Amish girls were "sexually assaulted"

In an interview with NCPR Sunday, St. Lawrence County District Attorney Mary Rain said the two Amish children were victims of sexual assault.



Speaking with assistant news director David Sommerstein, Rain said evidence that the girls were sexually assaulted comes from "interviews with the girls and the suspects."



During the interview, Rain also explained her decision to release information about the girls' alleged sexual assault. (See details below.)



Rain alleged that Stephen Howells II and Nicole Vaisey, both of Hermon, NY, planned in advance to kidnap children for the purpose of abusing them.



"They were definitely looking to abduct and victimize," Rain said.



Rain said that the investigation is continuing and she declined to rule out the possibility of other suspects, or other victims.



"The motive was to victimize, to take these girls from their homes and victimize these girls," said St. Lawrence County Sheriff Kevin Wells previously, at a press conference on Saturday.



"The girls have been victims of crimes."



"Coercion was utilized" during the kidnapping, Wells said, though he declined to specify details.



Wells added that investigators are looking to see "if there are other victims" and said that there is "definitely potential" that Howells and Vaisey attacked others prior to last week's kidnapping.



Officials at the press conference Saturday also confirmed that the girls were instrumental in helping law enforcement find the suspect's house.



The press conference was held outside the sheriff's office in Canton and included officials from the FBI, State Police, and the county District Attorney's office.



The swift arrest culminated a massive effort coordinated by the St. Lawrence County Sheriff's Department and other law enforcement agencies.

DA Rain explains decision to release information about sexual assault

At the press conference on Saturday, Sheriff Wells acknowledged that the girls had been given a medical exam following their return Thurday night, but he declined to offer additional details.

But by late Saturday, Rain had decided to inform news organizations — including the New York Times and NBC News — that the girls were allegedly sexually assaulted.

Rain says she chose to release the sexual assault information "because I wanted their [the chidren's] names off of everyone's news reports."

She also said information about the alleged sexual assaults would come out Thursday at a court proeeding.



Regarding Sheriff Wells' reluctance to provide details about the girls' treatment while abducted, Rain said "he and I disagreed on that."

Hermon couple's relationship said to be like "master" and "slave"

Stephen Howells II works as a registered nurse at Claxton-Hepburn medical center in Ogdensburg. Vaisey is a part-time pet bather at Bows & Bandanas pet salon in Potsdam. Police said they’ve been a couple for at least a year and a half. According to the Watertown Daily Times, both have been suspended without pay since their arrests.

Police say neither Howells nor Vaisey have a prior criminal background.

On Saturday, St. Lawrence County Sheriff Kevin Wells said what they did was premeditated. He said they weren’t particularly targeting Amish children, and he said that they didn’t know these girls. But he alleged they were prowling for easy targets.

"They were targeting opportunities. It wouldn’t have had to been just an Amish child. The motive was to victimize, to take these girls from their home and victimize these girls," Wells said at the press conference.

NCPR hasn’t been able to speak with either of their lawyers. But in an interview with the New York Times, Brad Riendeau of Watertown, the lawyer for Nicole Vaisey, said she was in what he called “a master and slave” relationship with Howells. The lawyer told the Times, “she was not the lead person or a coequal in this at all”.

Upon their arrest, Vaisey’s lawyer applied for an order of protection against Stephen Howells.

More from Saturday's press conference

Brian Mann spoke with NCPR Reporter Natasha Haverty who was at the scene of Saturday's press conference.

Brian Mann: Natasha, were any details offered about how the girls managed to get free?

Natasha Haverty: This was interesting, Brian. Authorities in Canton say specifically that the children were "released." They were pressed on this point and the details remain a little unclear, but it does appear that Howells and Vaisey decided to let them go. The girls were dropped off and another couple took the girls in, fed them, and brought them back to their parents In the 24 hour period while they abducted, they were apparently with Howells and Vaisey the entire time until they were let go.

BM: Tasha, do we have any more information about how the girls were treated?

NH: St. Lawrence County's Sheriff Kevin Wells said a medical examination of the girls has been done, but he declined to release any of that information. He also said specifically that his office won't be releasing any information about what these children experienced while they were being held. He's clearly wanting to protect their privacy as much as possible.

: Do we have any information about what motive Howells and Vaisey might have had in allegedly taking these two girls from the farm stand Wednesday night?

NH: There have been reports that the pair intended to harm and sexually assault the girls, but that kind of motive wasn't confirmed at this press conference. It does appear that the couple had planned to carry out a kidnapping and prepared to abduct children in the community. But it's not clear why they chose these two Amish girls. Police say Howells and Vaisey didn't know these children or have any connection to them. It's also unclear why the suspects apparently decided to let the children go. Some of those details may become clearer as court proceedings move forward. The next court appearance for the two suspects is scheduled for Thursday afternoon.

BM: Natasha, can you tell us how did this arrest happen Friday night?

NH: According to officials here this morning in Canton, the FBI actually approached the home last night. They say Howells and Vaisey were "cooperative" and there was no violence or confrontation as the arrests were made. It is interesting Brian, given the FBI's involvement, that authorities say they are also looking at pressing Federal charges against Howells and Vaisey.

BM: Natasha, describe the scene there in Canton this morning? I know this was a massive search effort, a lot of law enforcement. What was the mood like now that the girls are home safe and after last night's arrests?

There was clearly relief that this had been wrapped up so quickly, Brian, but there wasn't any celebrating or any sense of triumph. The mood was pretty somber. This was such a frightening event. It was complicated because it involved the Amish community, who cherish their privacy. And I think law enforcement are also working very hard to respect the privacy of these children and their families who suffered a terrible ordeal.

Sheriff's Department releases new information

The press release, acquired by NCPR via Newzjunky, stated that the "arrest of the two persons have with no doubt saved young children from future abuse at the hands of these two."

Howells and Vaisey only face allegations at this point and are innocent until proved guilty. Details from the SLC Sheriff release:

The St. Lawrence County Sheriff's Office made an arrest in the investigation of the the two young Amish females from last Wednesday. Investigators are crediting the 12 year victim with the successful outcome of the investigation. The victim provided crucial information that led investigators to the County Route 21 address and the subseqent arrest of Stephen M. Howells 2nd age 39 and his girlfriend Nicole F. Vaisey, 25 of 1380 County Route 21, Hermon, on the charge of Kidnapping in the 1st degree.



The two were brought before Fowler Town Justice Lamson and held on no bail. Additional charges are pending further consultation with the St. Lawrence County District Attorney's Office and the United States Attorney's Office, Syracuse.



Sheriff's Officers are also thanking the Heuvelton Fire Department, for the use of their fire department as a command center and Chief Friot for his efforts to assist in any way possible. The Heuvelton community and all of the citizens of St. Lawrence County who donated food, time and information to aid in the investigation. Through the course of the investigation the over whelming assistance offered from the FBI, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, New York State Police uniform patrol, BCI investigators, Major Crimes Investigators, Forensic Unit, Air Unit, the St. Lawrence County Dive Team,



The over 124 volunteer fire personnel who showed up to conduct a night search using thermal image devices, the New York State Forest Rangers for the help in leading and coordinating ground, and air searches. The Border Patrol and their aviation unit, the St. Lawrence County Probation Department, Potsdam, Massena, Ogdensburg, Gouverneur Police Departments, New York State Parole officers, St. Lawrence County SANE nurses, and the many others that assisted that we may have not mentioned, all of the help and support and encouragement shown the officers as they conducted a very difficult investigation was very much appreciated.



The arrest of the two persons have with no doubt saved young children from future abuse at the hands of these two.



The investigation is continuing as many things still need to be completed to ensure the successful prosecution of these individuals. Anyone with information about other crimes that these two may have been involved in are asked to call the Sheriff's Office at 379-2222.



More details of how the girls got home

The swift arrest culminated a massive effort coordinated by the St. Lawrence County Sheriff's Department.

The girls were "barefoot, cold, wet and hungry Thursday night," according to their account, and were still wearing their traditional Amish clothing.

The Stinsons knew the girls from the farmstand and were aware of the massive search underway in St. Lawrence County.



Previously



Related backstory: "Abducted Amish girls safely returned home"



The arrests also followed shortly after a press conference on Friday in which police offered "no details" regarding the search for the person or people who are alleged to have kidnapped two Amish girls from their farm stand Wednesday evening in rural St. Lawrence County, leaving more questions than answers.



The young sisters were returned home safely Thursday after a massive search that included state police, the border patrol, and the FBI.

A man, whose name police are withholding, came across the girls in the hamlet of Bigelow, in the town of Richville, about 13 miles from their home outside Heuvelton.

“He did the right thing,” St. Lawrence County Sheriff Kevin Wells said Friday afternoon, but he offered no details on how the men encountered the girls or where they had been.

Speaking at the Heuvelton fire hall as traffic and Amish buggies rolled by, Wells gave no details about the search for kidnappers.

"We’re in the middle of an active investigation," said Wells. "We still have everybody in place that we had before. Just because the girls are home doesn’t mean all of our partners still aren’t actively involved in the investigation."

Sheriff Wells said the girls are “in good health” and have been "helpful" in the investigation, but he wouldn’t shed any more light how the girls were treated during their absence.

Wells also stepped back from earlier information that police were looking for a white sedan and a red Dodge Caliber. “We haven’t ruled out any type of vehicle,” Wells said.

Wells said police are still asking for help from the public to be looking out for strange activity.

"Anything that just doesn’t fit. Maybe people who have been more reclusive over the past few days. There’s a lot of things out there that if people just look at the oddity of it that they can see, maybe they need to make a phone call to us," said Wells.

Anyone with information is asked to call 315-379-2222.