Quilcene man acquitted of sex charge

Timonthy J. Rondeau Jr. of Quilcene, one of 10 defendants in the 2018 Net Nanny operation, has been found not guilty by a jury on one charge and had another dismissed by a judge.

Rondeau, 32, was charged with attempted rape of a child. A jury found him not guilty on June 17, according to Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Julie St. Marie.

St. Marie said the evidence “was less” than the state had on the other defendants.

She said the jury could not agree on a second charge of communicating with minors, a gross misdemeanor, which led Judge Keith Harper to declare a hung jury and dismiss the charge.

Juries will hear cases against the two remaining defendants David L. Sprague of Sequim on Aug. 12 and Isaac J. Boyd of Sequim in December.

St. Marie said the other defendants in the internet sting operation were found guilty or pleaded guilty to charges. Thomas Gale, 53, of Port Townsend died before his arraignment.

The 10 men were arrested in the March 22-25, 2018 as multi-agency sting, Individuals answered online ads, then drove to an address expecting to have sex with minors, law enforcement said.

More than 60 law enforcement officials participated in the operation.