One of four people charged in an alleged local child abuse investigation has been ordered to stand trial.
Sherina Maria Handsor, 44, a resident of Sandy Beach, was ordered to stand trial in Whitecourt Court of Justice on Jan. 28, 2025. A trial date, however, has yet to be set.
A second and third accused, Jimmy Allen Fransen, 51, a resident of Fort McMurray, and Brenda Disher (aka Fransen), 46, also of Fort McMurray, are scheduled for separate preliminary hearings this spring to see if their cases have enough evidence to go to trial.
Jimmy Fransen’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 28-29, 2025, in Edson Court of Justice, while Brenda Disher’s preliminary hearing is scheduled in Fort McMurray Court of King’s Bench, those same dates.
A fourth accused, Nicole Kathleen Barrett, 45, of Whitecourt, sees her matters return to Edmonton Court of King’s Bench on Feb. 5, 2026, in Edmonton Court of King’s Bench for jury selection.
Following a lengthy RCMP Serious Crimes Branch investigation into allegations of historical physical and sexual child abuse in Edson, Mounties charged two individuals with a series of offences related to crimes allegedly committed between 2005 and 2011.
On March 21, 2024, Jimmy Allen Fransen was arrested and charged with:
- Sexual assault;
- Sexual assault with a weapon;
- Sexual interference with a child under the age of 16;
- Sexual exploitation;
- Making and possession of child pornography; and
- Failure to provide the necessaries of life.
Mounties say Fransen was taken before a Justice of the Peace and released on bail including conditions that restrict contact with children.
Additionally, on April 8, 2024, RCMP arrested Sherina Maria Handsor, who was charged with:
- Assault causing bodily harm;
- Assault with a weapon, forcible confinement; and
- Failure to provide the necessaries of life.
Following the initial arrest of Jimmy Fransen, the RCMP Serious Crimes Branch says it received information on unrelated allegations of child sexual abuse arising out of Fort McMurray, between 2017 and 2023.
As a result of that investigation, on April 6, 2024, Jimmy Allen Fransen and Brenda Disher, also known as Brenda Fransen, both residents of Fort McMurray, were charged with:
- Making, distribution and possession of child pornography;
- Sexual assault;
- Sexual interference involving a child;
- Sexual exploitation; and
- Trafficking a person under the age of 18.
Police say both were taken before a Justice of the Peace and released on bail, including conditions restricting contact with children.
Meantime, following the initial arrest of Sherina Handsor, officers with the RCMP Serious Crimes Branch arrested Nicole Kathleen Barrett on April 24, 2024, in connection to the same investigation involving Handsor. Police say Barrett was taken before a Justice of the Peace and released on bail including conditions that restrict contact with the alleged victims.
Barrett faces one count of assault, and three counts of failure to provide necessities of life.
Mounties say five new victims later came forward to the RCMP reporting historical child abuse offences while in Handsor’s care in Whitecourt and Quesnel, BC. RCMP say they also identified two additional victims, totaling seven new victims of child abuse.
As a result, on Wednesday, April 29, 2024, RCMP charged Sherina Handsor with 13 additional charges related to historical child abuse including;
- Failure to Provide Necessities of life (x7);
- Assault with a weapon;
- Assault causing bodily harm;
- Assault (x3);
- Administrating noxious substance (x2).
Handsor was taken before a Justice of the Peace and remanded into custody.
Mounties say information received during the course of the investigation suggests there may be other victims or individuals who may have information regarding the involvement of Sherina Maria Handsor and Nicole Kathleen Barrett in offences against children.
RCMP are asking anyone with information about this crime or those responsible to call the Serious Crimes Branch at 780-509-3290.
To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 1‐800‐222-8477 (TIPS), by Internet at www.tipsubmit.com or by SMS (check your local Crime Stoppers www.crimestoppers.ab.ca for instructions).
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