Sprague man arrested in child-sex case

SPRAGUE—A local man is facing six criminal charges after police allegedly discovered more than 100 files depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct on a laptop in the man’s residence.

Jonathan Ray Stocker, 42, was arraigned in Lincoln County Superior Court and entered a not-guilty plea on five counts of first-degree depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and one count of second-degree depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct Tuesday, Sept. 12.

Stocker was arrested Friday, Sept. 1, by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office after Chief Criminal Deputy Kody Becker and deputy Dain Harden executed a search warrant on Stocker’s Sprague Highway Road residence and discovered a laptop containing “at least” hundreds of images and videos crudely depicting minors, according to police records.

After speaking with Harden, Stocker admitted to knowing he possessed the images and videos, while saying he downloaded images onto both his laptop and desktop computer, records state.

Stocker has been an active Level 1 registered sex offender since Aug. 2015 for a possession of child pornography conviction, according to records.

At the arraignment hearing, deputy prosecutor Ty Albertson requested a $200,000 bond for Stocker while he awaits trial.

“Given the seriousness of the charges, we have concern he has strong incentive to flee,” Albertson said.

Public defender Dave Hearrean asked for a lower bond, saying Stocker has been a lifelong Sprague resident.

“A $200,000 bond is similar to what they might give a murderer,” Hearrean said.

Superior Court Judge Jeffrey S. Barkdull lowered the bond to $100,000 while forbidding Stocker from accessing the Internet, a computer or a telephone of any kind.

Stocker can’t leave the state while awaiting his trial, which Barkdull set for Tuesday, Nov. 1. A readiness hearing was scheduled for Oct. 17.

Stocker remained in Lincoln County Jail at press time.