See pages 13-16
HEALTHWISE SPORTS Cascades look to guarantee playoff spot Fighting for the bottom berth late in season
2010
1985
T UESDAY , O CTOBER 26, 2010
28 Pages
Page A26
YOUR SOURCE FOR LOCAL NEWS, SPORTS, WEATHER AND ENTERTAINMENT abbotsfordtimes.com
Scam pulls at seniors’ heartstrings
CLARE
JUSTICE FOR
Crooks use Facebook to learn who’s away RAFE ARNOTT RArnott@abbotsfordtimes.com
S
Peter Wilson facing 55 years in U.S. prison
ocial network scammers are targeting Abbotsford seniors in the latest online fraud involving Facebook, police are saying. Seven seniors have been taken for thousands of dollars each in the past few months, Abbotsford Police Department Const. Ian MacDonald said. “The average take is more than $4,000, and the average age of victims is 80 years old,” he said. The newest version of the moneyfor-nothing plot revolves around a niece or a nephew in trouble with the law, who needs money – roughly $4,000 according to police – to make bail and get the legal process going, MacDonald said.
ROCHELLE BAKER RBaker@abbotsfordtimes.com
A
bbotsford’s Peter James Wilson was sentenced to more than 55 years behind bars in a U.S. prison Friday for slashing the throat his five-year-old stepdaughter while vacation- First reported @ ing in Washing- abbotsfordtimes.com ton state over the summer. Wilson, dressed in white prison-issue clothing, listened quietly to Mason County Superior Court Judge Toni Sheldon as she sentenced him to 640 months in prison, with an additional 24 months for use of a deadly weapon in the slaying of Clare Shelswell. The judge outlined the reasons for Wilson’s exceptional sentence, citing Clare’s vulnerability, Wilson’s abuse of trust and the destructive nature “Clare’s death has of the crime for the been shocking and family. During her impact devastating beyond statement, Clare’s mother, Sarah Wil- comprehension to son, told an emotional courtroom me and my family.” about losing her yo u n g d a u g h t e r, – Sarah Wilson mother described as a bubbly, smart, loving, creative, vibrant five-year-old girl whose favourite food was pickles. “Clare’s death has been shocking and devastating beyond comprehension to me and my family,” said Sarah, who noted her daughter would never celebrate her sixth birthday.
see SCAM, page A4
de Jong not lost in shuffle P
remier Gordon Campbell made a host of changes to his cabinet yesterday morning, but not much has changed for MLAs in Abbotsford or Mission. Campbell shuffled 17 ministerial positions and replaced his long-time chief of staff, Martyn Brown, who is now deputy-minister of tourism. Abbotsford-West MLA Mike de Jong – who was pulling double duty in cabinet – remains attorney general while Langley-Aldergrove MLA Rich Coleman will relieve him of the position of minister of solicitor general and public safety.
see CLARE, page A10
see SHUFFLE, page A3
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