An investigation into child abuse and sexual exploitation has resulted in more charges after new victims came forward.
Alberta RCMP continue to ask victims to come forward after a new round of charges were announced, as well as the arrest of a fourth person believed to be involved.
Following the initial arrest of Sherina Maria Handsor, age 43, police arrested Nicole Kathleen Barrett, age 45, a resident of Whitecourt, Alta, in relation to the same investigation.
On April 24, 2024, RCMP arrested and charged Barrett with three counts of failure to provide necessities of life and assault. She has since been released on bail with conditions that restrict contact with the victims. Her next court appearance is May 28 in Whitecourt.
Handsor is also facing new charges after five new victims came forward reporting historical child abuse while in her care in Whitecourt and Quesnel.
RCMP identified two additional victims, totalling seven new victims of child abuse.
On April 29, 2024, Handsor was charged with 13 additional charges including seven counts of failure to provide necessities of life, assault with a weapon, assault causing bodily harm, three counts of assault and two counts of administering a “noxious substance.”
Handsor remains in custody and will appear in court on May 1, 2024 in Stony Plain, Alta.
Two other people were arrested in the same investigation in March. RCMP said the crimes dated back to 2005 to 2011.
In March, Jimmy Allen Fransen, age 51 of Fort McMurray, was arrested and charged with sexual assault, sexual assault with a weapon, sexual interference with a child, sexual exploitation, making and possessing child pornography and failure to provide the necessities of life.
He was released on bail with conditions restricting contact with children, and will appear in court on May 7, 2024 in Edson, Alta.
Following the initial arrest of Fransen, more information about unrelated allegations of child sexual abuse arose out of Fort McMurray, between 2017 and 2023.
As a result, on April 6, 2024, Jimmy Allen Fransen and Brenda Disher, age 45, (also known as Brenda Fransen) were charged with making, distributing and possessing child pornography, sexual assault, sexual interference involving a child, sex trafficking and trafficking a person under the age of 18. Both were released on bail.
Police believe there still may be more victims who have yet to come forward. If you have any information about this crime or those responsible please call the RCMP Serious Crimes Branch at 780-509-3290.
If you get value from KelownaNow and believe local independent media is important to our community we ask that you please consider subscribing to our daily newsletter.
If you appreciate what we do, we ask that you consider supporting our local independent news platform.
