SYRACUSE, New York – A man and woman involved in the kidnapping and sexual abuse of two Amish girls in northern New York face sentencing in federal court, and prosecutors say they should never leave prison.
Nicole Vaisey and her boyfriend, Stephen Howells, admitted in state and federal courts that they kidnapped the two girls and have sexually exploited six children altogether.
Authorities say victims were drugged and recorded during sex acts. The abuse ended after the couple was arrested for kidnapping two young Amish girls from a farm stand in August 2014. The girls were released after a day.
Vaisey's attorney says she was a virtual slave to Howells, but prosecutors disagree.
Prosecutors asked for a maximum 580-year sentence for Howells and 300 years for Vaisey.
Howells' lawyer asked for a 30-year sentence.
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