Two of three people arrested in a bizarre child kidnapping case this time last year have said they will plead guilty.
Lawyers for 73-year-old Will Crockwell, who lives in New Brunswick, and 64-year-old Erin Bast, of Milltown in this province, made the moves in provincial court yesterday.
The third person charged, 70-year-old Fred Boone, also of Milltown, has not yet entered a plea.
It’s alleged Crockwell coached a 14-year-old girl to leave St. John’s, meet up with him in central Newfoundland, and return to New Brunswick with him last June.
Boone and Bast are accused of helping arrange the rendezvous, and were tracked down, along with the girl, at a cabin on the Bay d’Espoir Highway.
It’s alleged Crockwell, fresh off the Port aux Basques ferry, was on his way to meet them when he was arrested in Badger.
The girl, who was not harmed, was first reported missing June 2 of last year, but it was six days later when an Amber Alert was issued, with Crockwell arrested that night, and the girl found the next day.
Crockwell and the girl did previously know each other, but that connection has not yet been divulged.
That could happen on August 2, though, when the convictions and the facts are formally filed with the court.