CONCORD, N.H. — A high school teacher charged with attempted sex trafficking of a minor appeared Monday afternoon in federal court, where a judge cleared him for release to home detention as he awaits trial.
Stacey Ray Lancaster, who was one of five men the US attorney’s office said were caught late last week in a sting operation led by US Homeland Security Investigations, wore a blue jumpsuit and shackles in the packed courtroom.
Although prosecutors argued Lancaster could be a flight risk because he has an ex-wife and two children in Bahrain, Magistrate Judge Andrea K. Johnstone said that was not a strong enough reason to keep him detained. Lancaster was released on certain conditions, including that he surrender his passport, submit to electronic monitoring, abstain from social media, avoid unsupervised contact with children, and reside with his mother in Raymond, N.H.
At one point during the hearing, Lancaster looked back over his shoulder and smiled at his mother and his current wife, who were in the courtroom. At another point, he blew a kiss.
All five defendants who have been arrested as part of the sting operation — Lancaster, 46, of Hudson, N.H.; Arthur Picanco, 42, of Bradford, Mass.; Ozeias Luiz Guilherme, 38, of Haverhill, Mass.; Sharath Chandra Bollu, 23, of Chelmsford, Mass.; and Koteshwara Raju Jonnagodda, 24, of Chelmsford, Mass. — are accused of responding late last week to an ad that officers posted online purporting to offer two girls, a 14-year-old and a 12-year-old, for sex, according to court records.
Lancaster allegedly picked the younger of the two and agreed to pay $100 for a 15-minute “quick visit” at a hotel in Manchester, N.H., according to court records.
Lancaster, who was arrested Thursday, was placed on administrative leave from his job as a teacher at Manchester’s West High School, where he had been overseeing the school’s Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps program and serving as a liaison between the school district and the US Navy, according to the Manchester School District.
Superintendent Jennifer Chmiel called the charges “serious and disturbing” and said the district is working closely with law enforcement.
“At this time we do not have information that connects this arrest to a student within our district,” Chmiel said in a message Saturday night, after authorities announced Lancaster’s arrest.
“The safety of our students and staff is our utmost priority, and in addition to supporting the law enforcement investigation, we are focused on ensuring our students have the support they need,” Chmiel added.
A spokesperson for the New Hampshire Department of Education said Monday that the department is aware of the situation and working with its partners to respond appropriately and ensure that educators act appropriately with regard to child safety.
The attorney assigned to Lancaster’s case, Jaye L. Rancourt of the Federal Defender’s Office, said her client maintains his innocence.
“We believe this is a very defendable case,” Rancourt said during the hearing.
During a press conference Monday afternoon, US Attorney Jane E. Young said the operation that led to the arrest of five individuals lasted for two days.
”The purpose of this investigation was to identify and ferret out any individuals who were looking for sex trafficking with children,” said Young, adding that this initiative was among the first of its kind in New Hampshire, and has they’ve been successful in other jurisdictions.
”This was an effort to ensure that some of our most vulnerable individuals, which are children who are targets of schemes that are not run by law enforcement are protected,” she said.
Young said she’s not aware of data about the scope of sex trafficking in the region.
Authorities are currently aware of only one suspect whose employment involved children, according to Young. She said she could not answer a question about whether other children at the school had been harmed.
”What I can tell you is that, given one of these individuals worked at a school, we have had communication with the school. We have offered whatever resources the school may need,” she said.
Lieutenant Commander Mack Jamieson, public affairs officer for the Naval Service Training Command, said Lancaster’s certification as a Navy JROTC instructor was immediately suspended and will remain so until the conclusion of the criminal case against him. He said local school districts are the hiring authority for such instructors.
Prior to his arrest, Lancaster repeatedly asked undercover agents for reassurance that they weren’t with the police, according to an affidavit filed with the criminal complaint against him.
“Are you affiliated with any law enforcement?” he allegedly asked via text message.
“No!!! And i dont need trouble. r u with police?? if u are u gotta tell me!” an agent replied.
Lancaster said he wasn’t affiliated with the police, then finalized the details of the transaction, according to the affidavit.
“I’ll be there at 3:15,” he allegedly wrote. “What’s the location.”
Lancaster allegedly arrived at the hotel a short time later. While in the parking lot, he expressed nervousness about the transaction and sought further assurances that an undercover agent wasn’t working with law enforcement, according to the affidavit. He allegedly had the agent touch him in a sexual manner to prove she wasn’t with the police. He then allegedly confirmed he was ready to follow through with the planned encounter with the 12-year-old, and he was arrested.
Court records allege Lancaster arranged to meet at the hotel at 3:15 p.m. on Thursday, which was 20 minutes after the school day concluded.
Lancaster first responded to the online ad that morning, at 7:21 a.m., initiating a back-and-forth conversation that continued into the afternoon, according to court records.
Assistant US Attorney Matthew Vicinanzo said during Monday’s hearing that Lancaster left school at about 2:50 p.m., which was captured on the school security cameras.
“It is our reasonable belief the defendant was negotiating for sex with a minor while he was at work at school,” Vicinanzo said.
Aside from the naval sciences courses that are part of the Navy JROTC program, Lancaster had been assigned a study hall and an advisory period, according to a spokesperson for the Manchester School District.
US Attorney Jane E. Young said Saturday that Lancaster, Picanco, and Guilherme had been arrested separately as part of the sting operation. Young announced Monday that Bollu and Jonnagodda, who are facing charges together, had also been arrested.
Rancourt, who represents both Lancaster and Guilherme, said both clients maintain their innocence.
Jeffrey S. Levin, the defense attorney assigned to represent Bollu, declined to comment.
Defense attorneys for Picanco and Jonnagodda did not immediately respond.
This article has been updated to include information from the court hearing and press conference.
Steven Porter can be reached at steven.porter@globe.com. Follow him @reporterporter. Amanda Gokee can be reached at amanda.gokee@globe.com. Follow her @amanda_gokee.