PORT TOWNSEND — A trial scheduled this week for a Sequim man arrested in the 2018 Net Nanny sting in Jefferson County has been continued.
David Lee Sprague, 35, will have a status hearing at 8:30 a.m. Friday in Jefferson County Superior Court before Judge Keith Harper, likely to re-set trial dates.
Sprague remained Tuesday at the Jefferson County Jail in lieu of $70,000 bail after his conditions of release were revoked following a court hearing Nov. 22.
Defense attorney Richard Davies of Jefferson Associated Counsel asked for the continuance during a special hearing Nov. 26, citing the unavailability of a witness, according to court documents.
The witness is considered key to the case, Davies said.
Harper found cause to strike the trial date, and Davies submitted a waiver signed by Sprague to waive his right to a speedy trial.
Sprague was charged in March 2018 with separate counts of first-degree and second-degree attempted rape of a child following the four-day, multi-agency Net Nanny operation.
Court documents allege Sprague answered a Craigslist ad posted by an undercover State Patrol sergeant March 22, 2018, and proceeded to engage in email and text messages with an undercover detective.
The detective was posing as a mother who was offering her daughters, 12 and 8, for sex.
Sprague sent dozens of suggestive text messages and several photos of his body parts to the detective, according to court documents.
The following day, the undercover detective gave Sprague an address in Port Hadlock, and Sprague was taken into custody after he arrived at the residence with his phone, three condoms and lubricant, according to court documents.
Sprague was one of 10 men arrested and charged with attempted rape of a child following the sting once the men took a substantial step toward accomplishing sex with children, the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s office said.
“There were hundreds of responses from men expressing interest,” Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Julie St. Marie said in an April press release.
Five of the men have either been found guilty or pleaded guilty. Two have since died.
One case — against Timothy Jay Rondeau Jr., 32, of Sequim — was dismissed in August and can’t be re-filed for the same charges.
In addition to Sprague, the other pending case is against Isaac Joseph Boyd, 23, of Sequim, who has a two-week trial scheduled to begin May 18.
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Jefferson County Managing Editor Brian McLean can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 6, or at bmclean@peninsuladailynews.com.