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Court

Mother charged after kids abducted in Fox Creek going to trial

Sep 25, 2019 | 5:31 PM

Two people charged after three children abducted from Fox Creek were found near Sylvan Lake earlier this year will stand trial.

Fox Creek RCMP were called at around 1:30 a.m. on June 1 after three children ages three years, four years, and nine months were abducted from their home in Fox Creek.

An Amber Alert for the missing children was issued at approximately 5 a.m.

About two hours later, Sylvan Lake RCMP spotted the suspect vehicle involved in the abduction along Highway 20 north of Sylvan Lake. The three children were located unharmed inside the vehicle, along with their mother who was arrested.

Charmaine Annette Darnel, 42, of Whitecourt is charged with three counts of abduction of a person under 14, assault and uttering threats.

D’artangan Dirk Pool, 23, of Lethbridge faces charges that include three counts of abduction of a person under 14, assault, uttering threats and forcible confinement.

Both have waived their right to a preliminary hearing and have elected to be tried by judge and jury. Dates for the trial have not been set.

The case is due back in Fox Creek provincial court on Oct. 21 for arraignment.