A man and woman who kidnapped and sexually abused two Amish girls in upstate New York last year have been sentenced to life in federal prison.
Nicole Basie and her boyfriend, Steven Howells, pleaded guilty in state and federal court to kidnapping two girls and sexually exploiting a total of six children. Authorities say the victims were drugged and filmed during sex acts.
Stephen Howells and Nicole Vaisey will spend the rest of their lives in prison. Photo: Provided
Judge Glenn Suddaby sentenced both defendants to the maximum sentences recommended by prosecutors: 580 years for Howells on 21 counts and 300 years for Vaisey on 10 counts.
According to the Syracuse Post-Standard, Howells, 40, told the judge he took advantage of the inexperienced Baizey and “played her around” for his own sexual gratification. “I take responsibility for the wrong I did,” he said.
Prosecutors say the abuse ended after the couple was arrested for allegedly abducting two Amish girls from a farm stand in August 2014. The girls were released the next day.
Mr Suddaby did not give the couple any credit for their release, accepting the prosecution’s theory that they would have held the girls as sex slaves if a soundproof room had been completed in their home. Mr Suddaby denied allegations that Ms Vaisey was under Howells’ control as a sex slave.
“You are a threat to parents’ daily lives,” Suddaby told Howells, who used her job as a nurse to obtain the drugs used to subdue her victims. “You are a never-ending nightmare for your children.”
Judge Suddaby recommended that both men undergo sex offender treatment in prison.
The defense sought a reduction in the sentences to allow the defendants to be ultimately released, pointing out that both had been sexually abused in the past.
Public defender Randy Bianco said Howells’ federal prison sentence should be reduced to 30 years.
In a sentencing memo, attorney Bradford Riendeau questioned, “After years of incarceration, at age 65, is Nicole Vaisey still a danger to the community?”
They still face sentencing on state kidnapping charges.